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TTb  R.  A  RY 

OF  THE 
UNIVL-R5ITY 
OF  ILLINOIS 


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Un32uU 
1832 


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http://archive.org/details/addressonfiftietOOwest_0 


AN  ADDRESS 


ON  THE 


Fiftieth  Anniversary 


OF  THE 


CLASS  OF  1832, 

Pakts  of  which  were  read  at  a  Class  Meeting  at 
Union  College,  June  27,  1882. 


CHARLES    E.  WEST. 


Omne  tulit  punctum  qui  miscuit  utile  dulci 
Lectorem  delectando  pariterque  monendo. 

—Horace. 


BROOKLYN,  K  Y.: 

TREMLETT  &  CO.,  PRINTERS,  826-330  FULTON  STREET. 
1882. 


Copyright.  1883, 
By  CHARLES  E.  WEST. 


c 

\  3  &K 


APOLOGY. 


Of  what  value  is  a  book  without  a  preface  f  And  what  is  a 
preface  but  a  postcript  f  In  a  letter,  it  forms  its  conclusion  and  is 
put  last ;  in  a  book,  it  is  the  introduction,  notwithstanding  it  is  the 
afterthought,  used  either  in  the  way  of  explanation  or  of  apology. 
It  is  here  used  in  the  latter  sense. 

When  I  sat  down  to  prepare  this  class-paper,  I  little  thought 
that  it  would  reach  its  present  dimensions  ;  or,  that  its  publication 
would  be  solicited.  The  compliment,  I  fear,  comes  from  an  undue 
partiality,  and  is  an  undeserved  honor. 

Our  last  meeting  at  the  college  was  one  which  will  never  be 
forgotten.  To  look  into  the  faces  of  classmates  we  had  not  seen 
in  fifty  years  and  observe  the  changes  time  had  wrought ;  to  grasp 
by  the  hand  the  companions  of  our  boyhood ;  to  listen  to  the  tales 
of  those  who  had  returned  to  their  Alma  Mater,  perhaps,  for  the 
last  time ;  to  pass  in  review  the  incidents  of  each  others'  lives ;  to 
recount  the  virtues  and  achievements  of  those  who  had  passed 
away,  and  drop  a  silent  tear  in  affectionate  remembrance ;  to  fore- 
cast our  own  departure  which  is  so  near  at  hand ;  to  walk  about 
the  college  grounds  and  think  that  fifty  classes  had  come  and 
gone  ;  to  realize  that  the  most  of  the  men  we  knew  in  our  college 
days  had  joined  the  long,  silent  procession  and  had  forever  disap- 
peared from  human  vision  ;  to  realize  all  this,  seemed  like  an 
unreal  dream—shadows  in  the  shadow-land.  But,  after  all,  we 
felt  sure  that  we  had  not  lost  our  personality, — that  we  were  the 
same  sentient,  thoughtful,  active  beings,  as  in  days  of  yore.  We 
could  laugh  and  cry.    Our  sympathies  were  as  keen  and  fresh 


iv. 

as  ever.  Naught  had  grown  old  but  the  caskets  of  the  living 
spirits.  Time,  thank  God,  had  naught  else  he  could  work  upon ! 
We  had  reached  a  mature  manhood,  and  could  look  back  over  the 
track  we  had  pursued  and  see  the  dangers  we  had  escaped  and  the 
conquests  we  had  won.  We  could  look  across  the  narrow  chasm 
before  us  and  see  the  shining  gates  of  pearl.  It  was  a  pentecostal 
season.  The  Divine  protection  was  invoked  that  our  steps  might 
be  guided  in  the  future  as  they  had  been  in  the  past. 

After  finishing  what  I  had  to  say  of  classmates  and  of  the 
President  and  Professors,  I  was  tempted  to  take  a  survey  of  the 
wonderful  panorama  of  events  of  the  last  half  century ;  but  I  soon 
found  that  I  was  sailing  on  a  mare  incognitum,  and  that  if  I  ever 
wished  to  make  port  again,  I  must  turn  the  prow  of  my  vessel  and 
sail  homeward. 

Pardon  me  for  the  great  length  of  my  manuscript.  As  it  is  for 
private  eyes  and  not  for  the  public,  I  feel  sure  that  your  criticisms 
will  be  charitable.  I  shall  be  happy  if  I  have  interested  you  by 
calling  attention  to  some  of  the  mile-stones  which  have  been  set  up 
in  the  grand  march  of  civilization  in  our  day.  It  has  been  a  great 
privilege  to  live  and  witness  the  marvellous  development  in  every 
department  of  human  thought  and  enterprise.  To  the  preparation 
of  this  address,  I  lay  no  claim  to  originality.  I  have  drawn  from 
the  accumulation  of  scientific  and  statistical  materials  of  the  past 
half  century. 

I  regret  that  I  have  not  been  able  to  learn  about  some  of  our 
classmates,  whose  names  are  not  starred  in  the  triennial  catalogue. 
If  living,  their  residence  and  occupation  are  unknown  to  me. 

I  am  sorry  that  I  had  not  the  materials  for  sketches  of  many 
classmates  who  achieved  honorable  positions  in  their  several  pro- 
fessions and  spent  their  lives  for  the  benefit  of  society.  Many  of 
them  were  bright  and  shining  lights. 

It  was  a  great  disappointment  that  some  of  our  brethren  whom 


V. 


we  had  expected  failed  to  come.  Their  letters  of  regret  explained 
the  reasons  of  their  absence. 

From  our  first  Class-circular,  we  learn  that  the  honor  of  organ- 
izing  a  Glass  Association  belongs  to  the  Class  of  '32.  I  know  not 
whether  our  example  has  been  followed  by  any  other  Class  or  not. 
At  any  rate,  it  has  been  a  source  of  great  pleasure  to  us  who  have 
participated  in  it,  and  we  can  recommend  it  to  other  Classes.  Such 
meetings  are  also  an  advantage  to  the  college. 

We  would  be  wanting  in  courtesy  not  to  acknowledge  our 
obligations  to  the  college  authorities,  and  especially  to  Professor 
Lameroux,  who  secured  rooms  for  us  at  the  hotel  and  accommoda- 
tions for  our  meeting  at  the  college. 

Grateful,  dear  Classmates,  for  the  privilege  of  attending  our 
recent  meeting,  and  for  the  pleasure  your  presence  and  words 
afforded  me, 

I  am  sincerely  yours, 

CHAELES  E.  WEST. 

Brooklyn  Heights  Seminary, 
October,  1882. 


ADDRESS. 


Classmates  of  '32 : 

By  a  resolution  of  the  Class,  at  its  last  meeting  in  1802,  a 
committee  consisting  of  Charles  E.  West,  Hamilton  W.  Robinson 
and  A.  P.  Cumings,  was  appointed  to  publish  a  corrected  catalogue 
of  the  Class,  with  an  address,  and  the  minutes  of  that  meeting ; 
and  they  were  also  authorized  to  call  a  meeting  in  1867. 

Unfortunately,  there  has  been  no  meeting  of  the  Class  for  the 
past  twenty  years ;  and,  as  my  associates  of  the  committee  have 
passed  away,  it  has  fallen  to  my  lot  to  discharge  this  official  duty 
alone. 

Our  first  meeting  was  in  July,  1842.  After  an  absence  of  ten 
years,  it  was  a  pleasure  to  return  to  our  Alma  Mater  and  renew 
the  friendships  of  early  days.  It  was  a  joyful  occasion.  Our 
fraternal  greetings  were  sincere  and  hearty.  "We  had  seen  some- 
thing of  the  world.  Man}-  of  us  had  entered  upon  professional 
life.  Large  spheres  of  usefulness  were  opening  to  our  ambitions. 
The  world  seemed  bright.  Many  an  hour  was  spent  in  telling  our 
experiences.  Some  had  married  and  their  firesides  were  made 
musical  with  the  prattle  of  children.  Our  venerable  President 
was  living  and  in  active  service.  It  was  delightful  to  meet  again 
the  "  Old  Man  Eloquent "  and  receive  his  benediction.  Many  of 
our  professors  were  actively'  engaged  in  college  work.  The 
Mohawk  valley  was  unchanged — the  quiet  river  still  pursued  its 
placid  wajT.  "  Dump  "  itself,  although  a  University  city,  had  not 
undergone  such  commercial  alterations  as  to  obliterate  its  old 
land-marks  and  make  it  unrecognizable !  We  readily  found  our 
way  from  the  railway  station  to  the  college  grounds,  but  missed 
some  of  the  familiar  signs,  as  Clute's  and  Duncan's,  on  Union 
street.  The  college  buildings  had  not  undergone  a  particle  of 
change.  The  same  massive  walls — the  same  brick-paved  halls — 
the  same  old  stair-ways  with  balustrades  substantial  enough  for  a 


2 


military  fortress — the  same  unique  rooms  with  the  doctor's  anthra- 
cite stoves — parlor,  bed-room  and  store-room  all  in  one.  In  front, 
the  same  beautiful  panorama  of  landscape  and  sky,  spreading  far 
to  the  west.  In  the  rear,  the  college  gardens,  lilled  with  evergreens 
and  sweet-scented  bushes,  especially  "Captain  Jack's"  garden, 
which  was  a  new  creation  and  has  since  become  so  celebrated. 
Being  a  farmer's  son,  I  remember  the  questions  he  used  to  put  to 
me  as  to  the  best  modes  of  planting  and  sowing  of  seeds,  for  he 
commenced  his  gardening  during  our  college  course.  How  warmly 
he  greeted  us  on  our  decennial  return !  He  was  nature's  noble- 
man and  commanded  the  love  and  veneration  of  all  his  students. 

Yes,  the  college  buildings  and  the  instructors  were  as  in  days 
of  yore — but,  in  all  other  respects  how  changed!  Among  the 
students  we  saw  no  familiar  faces!  Classes  had  come  and  gone! 
We  were  strangers  and  received  no  tokens  of  recognition !  We 
had  had  our  day,  and  had  gone  out  into  the  great  world  never 
again  to  be  summoned  to  college  duties !  We  felt  isolated  and 
alone;  and  with  closed  doors  we  shut  ourselves  in  and  communed 
with  each  other.  It  was  a  precious  season.  The  absent,  the  living 
and  dead,  were  enquired  about;  many  had  gone  to  the  silent 
land,  qui  fuerunt,  sed  nunc  ad  astra.  Our  poet,  John  W.  Brown, 
read  an  elegiac  poem  commemorative  of  the  fifteen  deceased 
members.  He  took  as  a  motto  to  his  thanatousion  the  inscrip- 
tion upon  Hinmaiis  monument,  in  the  college  grounds,  who 
was  the  first  to  die  : — 

"  Etsi  procul  a  propinquis. 

"  In  morte  quiescit. 

"  Aniici  plurimi,  non  sine  lacrymis. 

"Sepulchrum  revisent." 

The  introductory  verse  of  his  hymn  is  as  follows : 
"  From  the  world's  crowded  scene  of  toil  and  strife, 

From  various  paths  through  which  our  steps  have  sped 
With  various  fortune  in  the  race  of  life 

We  come  these  classic  halls  again  to  tread 
To  greet  the  living  and  to  mourn  the  dead — 

Ten  years  of  stern  or  bright  vicissitude 
Have  passed  in  action  big  with  hope  or  dread, 

And  now  we  stand  again  where  oft  we  stood 

In  those  remembered  days,  a  youthful  brotherhood." 


Four  decennial  anniversaries  have  passed  since  that  memorable 
meeting  of  "tfie  seventeen"  eleven  of  whom  have  since  gone  to  the 
spirit-land;  and  of  these  is  our  sweel  poet  Brown,  who  sang  for 
others — but  now  for  himself  as  well : 

"  Many  are  gone,  whose  morning  hours  were  blest 

With  promise  of  a  bright  and  glorious  day  ! 
Some  gentle  souls  sank  quietly  to  rest 

As  the  departing  sunlight  melts  away 

'Mid  the  delicious  bloom  and  balm  of  May. 
Some  lie  on  distant  shores,  and  virtuous  deeds 

Have  made  their  memory  holy,  and  the  ray 
Of  blest  example  to  the  gloom  succeeds, 
Cheering  the  heart  that  o'er  the  loved  and  lost  ones  bleels. 

"  Fair,  fair  in  memory's  moonlight  are  they  all, 

The  young,  the  bright,  the  noble.    It  is  true 
The  silent  grave  returneth  not  our  call  ; 

Our  voice  wakes  not  their  slumber  ;  from  the  voice 

Of  living  men,  from  'neath  that  arch  of  blue, 
From  this  fair  earth  forever  are  they  gone  ; 

Yet  be  it  ours  to  pay  the  tribute  due 
To  noble  hearts,  not  with  unmanly  moan 
But  in  that  worthy  grief  which  hallows  sorrow's  tone." 

You  will  pardon  me  for  recalling  some  of  the  departed  with 
whom  I  was  on  terms  of  intimacy  during  our  college  course  and 
afterwards.  And  first,  Butler  Goodrich,  Jr.  By  consent  of  his 
classmates,  he  was  regarded,  I  think,  as  the  most  accomplished 
scholar  in  his  class.  Our  acquaintance  began  in  the  winter  of 
1825-6  at  the  old  Pittsheld  Academy,  and  was  continued  at  the 
Berkshire  Gymnasium,  a  celebrated  school  in  Western  Massachu- 
setts. 

My  acquaintance  at  that  time  with  young  men  from  different 
parts  of  the  country  and  from  foreign  lands,  was  of  immense 
value  to  me,  some  of  whom  have  become  distinguished  in  society, 
— as  Arthur  Cleveland  Coxe,  Bishop  of  Western  New  York; 
Franklin  Clinton,  son  of  De  Witt  Clinton,  who  entered  the  U.  S. 
Navy  and  died  young;  Thomas  Allen,  Member  of  Congress  from 
St.  Louis;  Henry  Shaw,  the  eccentric  "Josh  Billings;"  Mariano 
Yaldez,  the  revolutionist,  of  Peru,  South  America. 


4 


But,  of  all  the  young  men  in  the  gymnasium  with  whom  I 
was  most  intimately  associated,  was  my  townsman,  Butler  Good- 
rich. He  was  modest  and  gentle  in  disposition.  He  had  an 
analytic  mind,  was  fond  of  mathematics  and  abstract  science, 
had  great  fondness  for  the  Latin  and  Greek  languages— was  untir- 
ing in  his  application  to  study.  His  masterly  scholarship  soon 
attracted  attention,  and  the  highest  rank  was  unanimously  awarded 
him.  We  were  poor  boys,  and  found  it  difficult  to  break  away 
from  business  to  attend  school.  It  was  in  the  retirement  of  our 
bed-room,  we  passed  a  sleepless  night  in  maturing  our  plans  for 
obtaining  an  education  at  whatever  sacrifice  it  might  cost  us.  I 
shal]  never  forget  that  night.  It  was  in  the  month  of  April,  1828. 
When  the  morning  light  broke,  our  ears  were  saluted  by  the  songs 
of  robin  and  blue-bird.  Our  plans  were  formed,  and  we  arose 
from  our  beds  as  happy  as  the  birds.  For  nearly  ten  years  we 
were  as  one — our  intimacy  was  perfect.  We  could  not  bear  to  be 
separated  in  vacation,  but  passed  it  at  each  other's  houses.  We 
entered  Union  College  in  1830,  and  graduated  two  years  later — 
the  year  of  the  terrible  Asiatic  cholera. 

In  the  fall  of  1833,  Goodrich  came  to  Albany,  and  passed  a 
year  as  a  teacher  in  the  Albany  Female  Academy.  I  had  preceded 
him  and  established  a  school  for  boys.  We  were  together  once 
more.  We  attended  Rev.  E.  N.  Kirk's  church — had  heard  him 
preach  in  the  college  chapel.  In  religion  Goodrich  was  skeptical. 
But  he  liked  the  earnest  and  devout  eloquence  of  Mr.  Kirk. 
During  a  religious  awakening  in  his  church,  we  became  interested 
in  a  series  of  religious  services.  They  were  novel  to  us ;  and,  at 
first,  we  attended  them  more  from  curiosity  than  from  a  desire  of 
gaining  any  personal  advantage,  till  at  last  we  began  to  feel  that 
there  might  be  something  in  religion  worthy  of  attainment.  We 
had  many  misgivings.  We  did  not  like  the  methods.  They 
seemed  mechanical.  Submission  was  mortifying  to  manly  pride. 
Night  after  night  we  fought  against  it ;  till  at  last,  our  conviction 
of  the  necessity  of  personal  religion  led  us,  after  many  struggles,  to 
sign  the  following  pledge : 

"  We  solemnly  pledge  ourselves  that  we  will  attend  to  the 
subject  of  religion  immediately;   and,  if  permitted  to  attend 


5 

meeting  to-morrow  evening,  we  will  do  everything  in  our  power 
for  the  salvation  of  our  souls. 

"Charles  E.  West, 
"  B.  Goodrich,  J  r. 

"Albany,  February  17th,  1834." 

What  memories  crowd  upon  my  mind  as  I  copy  these  few  lines 
which  had  such  a  practical  bearing  upon  our  destiny. 

Many  years  after,  Dr.  Kirk  sent  me  the  following  note  and  a 
"  Pastors  Sketch :" 

"  My  dear  West  : 

"  It  just  occurred  to  me  to  put  in  print  our  memorable 
interview,  because  the  statement  of  it  has  been  beneficial  to  other 
persons.  I  shall  make  No.  2  handle  the  difficulties  about  com- 
munity with  three  persons  and  one  essence. 

"  Your  affectionate  friend, 

"Edw.  N.  Kirk. 

"Boston,  April  2,  185(3." 

The  sketch,  entitled,  "Intellectual  Difficulties  in  Reli- 
gion," No.  1,  "  The  Being  of  God,"  I  give  in  full : 

"  There  are  such  difficulties ;  and  it  is  very  desirable  that  they 
be  removed  so  far  as  explanation  and  suggestion  can  do  it.  And 
it  is  equally  important  to  guard  against  an  advantage  the  enemy  of 
the  truth  often  takes  by  making  it  appear  that  these  difficulties  are 
peculiar  to  religion;  and  that,  therefore,  persons  who  have  not 
leisure  for  much  study  are  excusable  for  not  attending  to  religions 
doctrines. 

"  Now,  it  should  be  noticed  that  the  higher  any  subject  rises  in 
intrinsic  grandeur  or  permanent  importance  to  man,  the  more  does 
it  lie  out  of  the  ordinary  range  of  thought,  and  the  more  does  it 
require  of  the  employment  of  those  powers  which  are  not  most 
frequently  in  exercise. 

"  Man  is  made  to  be  conversant  with  spiritual  just  as  mnch  as 
with  material  objects ;  and  yet  the  daily  and  hourly  exercise  of  the 
senses  makes  man  more  familiar  with  the  latter  than  with  the 
former ;  and  thus  our  susceptibility  to  impressions  and  to  evidence 
depends  upon  our  habits.  A  mere  mathematician  becomes  exceed- 


6 


ingly  keen  in  his  perceptions  of  mathematical  evidence  ;  but  he  is 
exposed  to  overlook  a  kind  of  evidence  immeasurably  more 
important  for  him. 

"  I  once  knew  two  young  men  who  were  distinguished  as 
mathematical  students.  They  had  formed  the  habit  of  requiring  a 
diagram  of  any  object  to  be  presented  to  the  eye  before  they  could 
form  a  definite  conception  of  it,  and  then  a  mathematical  proof  was 
required  before  they  would  believe  anything  not  palpable  to  the 
senses. 

"  In  this  state  of  mind  they  were  both  awakened  to  a  conscious- 
ness of  guilt  and  depravity  in  the  sight  of  God.  Under  the  pressure 
of  this  load,  they  retired  from  a  religious  meeting  to  pray  alone. 
When  they  met  each  other  the  next  morning,  they  found  that  each 
had  encountered  the  same  obstacle,  and  had  yielded  to  it.  They 
agreed  to  go  immediately  to  their  pastor  and  seek  his  aid.  The 
substance  of  the  conversation  I  will  now  give : 

"  Pastor — What  is  it,  my  young  friends? 

"  Student — I  went  to  my  room  and  kneeled  by  the  chair  to 
give  myself  to  God.  The  chair  was  there,  the  wall,  the  furniture ; 
and  I  was  there ;  but  there  was  no  one  else.  And  it  seemed  to  be 
absurd  for  me  to  beat  the  air  with  vain  words,  so  I  arose  from  my 
knees  discouraged;  and,  meeting  my  friend  B.  this  morning,  I 
found  that  he  had  passed  through  the  same  process ;  so  we  have 
come  to  seek  your  aid  in  the  case. 

"  Pastor — Most  happy  am  I  to  meet  you  at  any  time,  but 
particularly  under  such  circumstances.  Your  difficulty  is  not  an 
uncommon  one.  It  arises  from  many  causes  which  are  common 
to  us  all  as  compound  beings,  partly  sensuous,  partly  spiritual. 
But  I  deem  it  not  improbable  that  in  your  case  it  has  been 
aggravated  by  your  disproportional  development  of  the  mathe- 
matical powers.  So  far,  however,  as  the  difficulty  is  mainly 
intellectual,  you  may  easily  be  relieved. 

"  To  you  both  it  seems  as  if  you  do  not  and  cannot  believe  in 
the  existence  of  mere  spirit.  But,  however  common,  it  is  an 
egregious  mistake.  You  believe  in  spirit  just  as  much  as  in 
matter,  and  you  know  as  much  and  even  more  about  it.  It  is  not 
important  now  to  prove  the  latter  point.    But  I  would  suggest  the 


7 


ground  of  the  assertion.  Matter,  you  know,  by  a  foreign  t  sstimony, 
broughl  to  the  spirit,  but  with  spirit  you  are  acquainted  by  the  direct 
action  of  the  knowing  faculty ;  by  that  purest,  profoundest, clearest, 
most  indisputable  of  all  modes  of  knowing — consciousness. 

"  But,  to  leave  that  Imagine,  now,  that  while  we  are  conversing 
together,  I  should  fall  dead  before  you.  Mark  now  the  change  in 
your  whole  mental  action.  In  an  instant,  supposing  the  fact 
settled,  that  life  Las  irrevocably  passed  away,  you  would  begin 
to  conceive  and  speak  of  me  as  gone.  But  how  is  that  ?  Who  am 
I?  All  that  you  ever  saw  or  heard  of  me  is  still  there.  The 
diagram  is  there  before  your  eyes,  and  yet  you  begin  to  think  and 
speak  of  me  as  gone — all  my  qualities  you  discuss,  speaking  of 
your  regard  for  me  and  my  friendship  toward  you.  But  of  whom 
are  you  speaking?  You  never  saw  my  spirit,  its  size,  form  or 
color.  And  yet  so  perfect  is  your  belief  of  the  existence  of  that 
invisible  being  of  which  even  your  imagination  can  make  no 
picture ;  and  not  only  of  its  existence,  but  also  of  its  being  all 
you  ever  thought  of  as  constituting  my  personal  existence,  that  you 
follow  it  in  thought  to  unknown  worlds  and  refuse  to  talk  to  that 
visible  body  any  longer. 

"  You  believe  in  spirit,  in  God.  Now  return  to  your  rooms  and 
meet  God  there  as  you  meet  me  here.  Kneel  and  speak  to  Him  as 
you  now  sit  and  speak  to  me.  He  hears  you,  He  sees  you ;  and, 
if  a  doubt  of  his  existence  or  presence  comes  over  you,  look  at 
your  hand  and  ask  who  contrived  it ;  lay  it  on  your  heart  and  ask 
who  keeps  it  beating. 

"They  retired.  The  next  interview  with  their  pastor  was  a 
joyful  occasion.  One  of  them  in  a  few  years  went  to  heaven  from 
the  midst  of  his  successful  labors  as  a  student  of  theology.  The 
other  still  lives  to  honor  the  cause  of  his  Saviour  and  train  the 
youthful  mind  to  the  knowledge  of  divine  and  human  things. 

"E.  K  K." 

In  July,  1834,  Goodrich  resigned  his  position  in  the  Academy 
and  entered  the  Theological  Seminary  at  Princeton.  On  the  18th 
of  November  he  wrote  me :  "I  have  been  already  several  days 
within  the  walls  of  a  theological  seminary.  It  is  not  in  the  power 
of  pen  and  ink  to  describe  my  feelings  as  I  left  Albany.    It  was 


8 


beyond  my  cool  philosophy  to  check  the  tears  that  would,  unbid- 
den, drop  from  my  eyes.  Was  it  leaving  Albany  and  my  friends 
there  that  caused  this  flow  of  melancholy  ?  No  ;  I  think  I  could, 
without  one  regret,  wave  all  the  pleasures  and  advantages  that  I 
enjoyed  there  even  for  an  unknown  and  precarious  enterprise.  I 
love  Albany,  not  for  its  excellences,  but  for  its  welcome  associations 
to  my  mind.  If  I  am  ever  so  happy  as  to  enter  the  regions  of  the 
blessed,  I  shall  regard  Albany  as  the  sacred  spot  where  I  first  met 
my  Saviour,  and  He  took  me  by  the  hand  and  pointed  me  to 
heaven.  At  the  time  I  left  you,  a  thousand  mixed  emotions  in 
rapid  succession  moved  my  mind ;  but  what  touched  me  most  of 
all  was  the  greatness  of  my  enterprise,  and  the  fact  that  I  must 
leave  you,  who  have  stood  by  me  in  almost  every  undertaking  in 
life,  behind." 

During  his  connection  with  the  seminary,  he  often  wrote  me  of 
his  work  and  of  the  interest  he  felt  in  his  preparation  for  the 
ministry — the  loftiest  ideal  of  Christian  service  that  could  be 
conceived.  He  was  grieved  that  I  did  not  join  him  in  his  studies. 
His  cousin,  Rev.  David  White,  afterward  a  missionary  to  Africa, 
was  with  him  during  his  last  illness  and  death,  and  wrote  me  that 
he  died  in  the  triumphs  of  faith.  "  It  was  indeed  good  to  a  pious 
heart,"  he  said,  "to  be  present  with  him  in  his  last  and  dying 
hours.  His  views  of  eternal  things  were  so  clear,  so  elevated,  so 
heavenly — his  confidence  in  the  Redeemer  so  firm  and  unwavering 
— his  estimation  of  his  own  works  so  low — his  exhortations  in  the 
service  of  his  blessed  Master  so  pathetic  and  forcible — his  whole 
appearance  so  unlike  to  mortality  and  corruption — that  we 
seemed  to  be  looking  upon  and  listening  to  an  inhabitant  of  that 
world  '  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling  and  the  weary  are 
at  rest' 

"  On  the  Monday  previous  to  his  death,  he  enjoyed  several 
lucid  hours.  He  had  been  informed  by  Dr.  Alexander  that  his 
physicians  considered  him  beyond  the  reach  of  medicine,  and,  to  all 
human  appearance,  very  near  his  end.  He  received  the  intelligence 
with  calmess  and  resignation,  and  said,  '  I  wish  the  Lord's  will  to 
be  done.'  Shortly  after,  when  all  had  left  him  but  myself  and 
another  brother,  he  discoursed  a  long  time — of  death  and  dying — 


9 


of  bis  prospects-  of  his  hopes.  Ee  made  disposition  of  his  effects, 
arranged  all  his  business  with  his  usual  exactness  and  order,  scut, 
messages  to  all  his  particular  friends,  and  made  presents  to  several 
of  them,  among  whom  yon  were  one.  Be  requested  me  to  give 
you  the  following  message:  'Tell  West  the  world  has  many 
allurements.  I  believe  that  he  has  struggled  hard  to  live  above 
their  influence ;  but  still  there  is  danger  of  living  away  from  the 
path  of  Christian  duty,  or  hindered  in  his  progress.  Tell  him  to 
live  near  to  Christ 1  As  a  token  of  his  dying  remembrance  and 
affectionate  regard,  be  requested  me  to  present  you  with  his 
valuable  flute. 

"  It  may  not  be  improper  here  to  say  that  Butler  often  spoke  of 
Mr.  Kirk,  and  at  one  time  remarked,  '  I  have  not  time  nor  strength 
to  speak  of  the  gratitude  I  feel  for  the  interest  which  he  has  taken 
in  me.    I  remember  him  with  much  affection.' 

"His  funeral  was  attended  yesterday  (February  14)  in  the 
chapel  of  the  seminary.  Though  none  of  his  father's  family  were 
here  to  follow  his  remains  to  their  long  home,  they  were  attended 
by  a  numerous  concourse  of  sympathizing  friends.  He  was  borne 
to  the  grave  by  his  college  acquaintances.  He  will  rest  in  peace. 
His  memory  is  blessed.  "  David  White. 

"  Pklnceton  Theological  Seminary, 
"  February  15,  1836." 

He  died  at  the  Seminary,  February  12,  1836,  in  the  27th  year 
of  his  age.    The  first  bereavement  of  my  life  ! 

A  committee  of  his  class,  of  which  Rev.  E.  D.  G.  Prime,  D.  D., 
was  chairman,  was  appointed  to  prepare  a  memoir  of  him,  and  I  was 
requested  to  furnish  the  materials,  and  did  so.  His  death  was 
deeply  lamented  by  the  professors  and  students.  In  1868,  I 
obtained  permission  from  the  cemetery  corporation  to  remove  his 
remains  to  my  lot  in  the  Pittsfield  Cemetery.  His  grave  is  on  the 
bank  of  his  loved  Housatonic  River,  on  the  opposite  side  of  which, 
and  at  a  short  distance,  is  the  house  where  we  spent  the  night  to 
which  reference  has  been  made.  To  conceal  my  thought  from  the 
ignoble  crowd  who  wander  in  cemeteries  like  ghouls  and  desecrate 
the  soil  which  covers  the  precious  dust  of  the  dead,  I  wrote  the 
following  Latin  inscription  for  the  marble  which  marks  his  grave  : 


10 


Hie  sepnltiv  /<><•<■/  reliquuu  mei  amiciqui  e  terra  ad  astra  translatus 
fait  PI lit rima '>  sunt  causce  cur  ilium  semper  amabo.  Viator,  sta  et 
si  flere  vis,  tecum  revolve  adolescentis  mortem  qui  si  vixisset 
omamentum  ecclesiai  et  societatis  insigne  bene  esse  promisit. 

Another,  and  perhaps  the  most  brilliant  man  of  his  class,  was 
Alexander  W.  Bradford,  who  died  November  5,  1867. 

I  was  appointed  by  the  American  Ethnological  Society  of  New 
York  to  prepare  a  minute  of  his  life,  services  and  death,  which 
were  entered  on  its  records,  as  follows  : 

That  in  testifying  to  our  respect  for  the  ability,  attainments, 
character  and  usefulness  of  the  deceased,  we  do  not  feel  inclined 
to  indulge  in  empty  panegyric,  or  enter  into  lengthy  discussion  of 
the  combination  of  excellences  which  formed  his  manhood  and 
made  him  conspicuous  in  his  professional  and  private  relations,  as 
councillor,  scholar,  Christian  and  friend.  Mr.  Bradford  was  born 
in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  February  21,  1815.  He  was  the  third  son  of 
Rev.  John  M.  Bradford,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  the  North  Dutch  Church 
in  that  city,  and  received  his  preparatory  education  in  the  Albany 
Academy,  then  under  the  care  of  that  accomplished  scholar 
T.  Romeyn  Beck,  M.  D. — an  institution  which  then  took  rank 
with  the  foremost  colleges  of  the  State.  Here  Mr.  Bradford 
gave  an  earnest  of  the  success  which  was  to  follow  him  in  the 
arena  of  professional  life.  At  the  age  of  15,  he  entered  Union 
College  and  was  the  youngest  member  of  his  class.  In  college, 
he  was  distinguished  for  acuteness  of  intellect  and  diligent  appli- 
cation to  study.  He  was  particularly  fond  of  mathematics, 
making  marked  attainments  in  the  higher  analysis  and  in  its 
application  to  mechanics  and  physical  astronomy.  In  this  connec- 
tion, I  remember  him  with  pleasure,  as  an  opportunity  was  afforded 
of  witnessing  his  inventive  power  on  this  higher  plane  of  intellec- 
tual discipline.  Selecting  the  legal  profession,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar,  in  1838.  In  1843,  he  was  elected  Corporation  Attorney, 
and  in  1848  was  chosen  Surrogate  of  the  City  and  County  of 
New  York,  holding  the  office  till  1858. 

It   is   not  my  province  to  pronounce  judgment  upon  the 


1 1 


industry  or  the  value  of  his  services  in  this  department  of  labor. 
This  must  be  dou^  by  his  legal  peers  and  associates.  Bere,  it  is 
sufficient  simply  to  refer  to  his  voluminous  reports  which  were 
prepared  with  great  labor  and  research,  and  unite  an  equitable 
interpretation  of  the  well-established  rules  of  jurisprudence.  His 
decisions  will  command  respect  in  the  arbitrament  of  all  di (lieu It 
cases  of  probate,  and  upon  them  will  rest  his  reputation  as  a 
scholar  and  jurist. 

After  the  close  of  his  office  as  Surrogate,  he  served  one  term 
in  the  Legislature  and  then  resumed  the  practice  of  law  in  New 
York,  which  he  continued  until  his  death. 

For  his  learning  and  integrity,  Mr.  Bradford  received  numerous 
testimonials  of  respect.  His  Alma  Mater,  in  1852,  conferred 
upon  him  the  degree  of  LL.D.,  and  elected  him  a  trustee  of  the 
college.  He  also  served  as  trustee  of  Columbia  College.  He  was 
a  member  of  various  literary  and  historical  societies  of  the  country  ; 
also  of  the  Royal  Northern  Antiquarian  Society  of  Denmark. 
Ethnology  was  a  favorite  study,  and  had  he  devoted  himself  to 
research  in  this  department,  he  would  have  achieved  honorable 
distinction.  As  it  was,  he  became  a  pioneer  in  American 
Archaeology.  His  work,  entitled  "American  Antiquities,"  was 
prepared  when  a  young  man,  and  at  a  time  when  scarcely  any- 
thing had  been  written  upon  the  subject,  and  is  characterized  by 
diligent  research  and  careful  deductions  from  the  mass  of  facts 
which  lay  in  chaotic  confusion— a  digest,  which  will  continue  to 
be  a  valuable  reference  to  the  student  of  history. 

But,  in  estimating  the  character  of  our  friend,  we  should  be 
wanting  in  fidelity  to  him  did  we  neglect  to  speak  of  what  is 
better  than  talent,  or  genius,  or  learning,  or  professional  reputation 
— did  we  forget  those  noble  qualities  of  justice  and  humanity — 
that  regard  for  truth  and  moral  excellence — that  love  of  God  and 
man  which  characterized  his  life,  and  made  him  an  example 
worthy  of  imitation.  He  has  gone,  leaving  a  record  which  will 
grow  brighter  and  brighter  in  our  recollections  of  him ;  and,  as  we 
journey  to  the  same  bourne,  let  us  be  grateful  that  it  has  been  our 
privilege  to  know  him  and  receive  inspiration  from  his  words  and 
example. 


12 


Rev.  John  1L  Raymond,  LL.D.,  was  bora  in  New  York  in 
1814.  In  1828,  lie  entered  Columbia  College ;  and,  after  remain- 
ing there  for  three  years,  he  joined  our  Class  at  Union.  In  1838, 
he  completed  his  theological  studies  at  Madison  University ;  was 
appointed  professor  in  Rochester  University  in  1851 ;  was  called 
to  the  Presidency  of  the  Brooklyn  Polytechnic  Institute  in  18'53  ; 
and,  in  1804,  he  was  chosen  President  of  Vassar  College  for  young 
women. 

For  fourteen  years  he  presided  over  that  institution,  and  was 
permitted  to  witness  its  great  success,  and  to  confer  the  diploma 
of  the  college  on  more  than  360  graduates.  On  August  14,  1&78, 
he  died  in  the  full  maturity  of  his  powers.  His  great  work  in. the 
establishment  of  Vassar  was  done.  To  its  success  he  had  brought 
an  organizing  mind,  a  finished  education  and  a  large  experience  in 
the  management  of  institutions.  Great  wealth  was  put  at  his 
disposal  with  which  to  organize  and  equip  the  several  departments 
of  instruction.  Costly  and  well  arranged  college  buildings  had 
been  erected.  The  question  in  regard  to  woman's  ability  to 
grapple  with  the  higher  mathematical  and  abstract  sciences  had 
already  been  determined  b}^  Rutgers  Female  College  of  New  York, 
which  is  the  mother  of  all  the  colleges  for  the  higher  education  of 
women  in  the  United  States. 

Dr.  Raymond  was  an  accomplished  Christian  scholar.  He  was 
distinguished  for  great  symmetry  and  beauty  of  character,  'for 
lofty  ideals  of  human  perfectibility,  and  for  an  unreserved  conse- 
cration of  himself  to  the  moral  regeneration  of  society.  He  has 
impressed  his  pure  and  noble  character  upon  his  generation,  and 
left  a  record  more  enduring  than  that  of  marble  in  the  affection  of 
those  for  whom  he  toiled. 

Do  you  remember  our  classmate  Lathrop  ?  He  was  poor  and 
had  to  struggle  hard  for  his  education.  He  prepared  his  own 
meals,  and  occasionally  made  buckwheat  cakes.  He  studied 
mathematics  under  Captain  Jackson.  At  a  recitation,  one 
morning,  on  Osculating  Curves:  "Well,  Lathrop,"  said  Jackson, 
with  his  legs  dangling  over  the  arm  of  his  chair,  "  how  are  the 
buckwheats?"    "First-rate,"  was  the  reply.    "And  how  is  the 


L8 

lesson?  Do  you  understand  osculating  curves  ?"  "  The  theoretical 
part,  professor,  1  have  not  mastered,"  said  Lathrop;  "but,  if  you 
will  give  me  a  girl  with  sweet,  pretty  lips,  I  will  show  you  my 
proficiency  m  the  application  of  the  theory!" 

Lathrop  studied  law,  came  to  New  York  to  pass  his  examina- 
tion, was  admitted  to  the  bar,  and,  on  his  return  home,  so 
overpowering  was  his  joy  in  winning  the  goal  of  his  ambition, 
he  lost  all  control  over  himself,  and  died  at  Albany  in  the  wildest 
delirium. 

Lincoln  B.  Knowlton  was  an  odd  character.  He  was  regarded 
by  some  as  a  great  genius.  He  had  the  reputation  of  getting  his 
lessons  without  study — would  frequent  students'  rooms  during 
study -hours,  and  boast  of  his  intuitive  superiority  to  the  plodding, 
painstaking  drudgery  to  which  his  classmates  were  subjected.  It 
was  said,  however,  that  he  passed  the  midnight  hours  in  hard  and 
patient  study.  In  personal  appearance  he  was  careless,  dressed 
shabbily,  and  took  pride  in  it. 

He  liked  to  amuse  himself  and  others  in  various  ways,  and  did 
queer  things.  He  was  annoyed,  as  we  all  were,  with  the  cimex 
lectularius,  and  how  to  keep  the  pest  out  of  our  beds  was  a  serious 
problem.  Knowlton  hit  upon  the  following  scheme :  He  laid  the 
mattress  on  the  floor,  and  put  a  wall  of  coal-ashes  around  it ;  then? 
between  the  bed  and  the  ashes,  a  circle  of  molasses  was  drawn.  He 
reasoned  that,  if  the  vermin  scaled  the  ash-entrenchment,  he 
could  not  get  through  the  molasses.  But,  in  this  he  failed,  and 
the  failure  has  ever  since  been  a  college  conundrum.  The  only 
solution  ever  proposed  was  that  the  varmint  ran  up  the  walls,  over 
the  ceiling,  and  came  down  like  a  vulture  to  do  his  bloody  work. 

Knowlton  studied  law  and  settled  in  the  West.  Farnham  told 
me  that,  on  his  way  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  he  saw  Knowlton 
presiding  as  a  police  justice  in  a  log-house  in  Illinois,  and  that 
he  looked  just  as  he  did  at  recitation,  or  sitting  on  a  college  fence. 
He  died  in  1854. 

Judge  Hamilton  W.  Kobinson  died  after  a  year's  illness,  April 
7,  1879.    I  attended  his  funeral.    A  large  number  of  his  legal 


acquaintances  were  present.  Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall  officiated,  and 
delivered  an  appropriate  address  to  the  members  of  the  bar  on 
their  duties  to  themselves  and  society,  urging  the  importance  of 
personal  religious  consecration  of  themselves  to  the  Great  Judge 
of  all.  He  spoke  in  kindly  terms  of  the  deceased,  and  of  his 
confidence  in  his  Christian  character. 

He  was  early  associated  in  business  with  John  Van  Buren.  I 
entered  their  office  as  a  law  student,  and  continued  till  I  was 
admitted  to  the  bar,  in  1844.  Robinson  was  profoundly  read  in 
the  law,  and  used  to  prepare  the  cases,  while  Van  Buren  did  the 
talking  in  court. 

I  also  attended  the  funeral  of  John  McClelland,  M.  D.,  one  of 
the  distinguished  physicians  of  New  York ;  and  also  that  of  the 
Hon.  D.  R.  Floyd  Jones,  the  successful  politician,  and  at  one  time 
Lieutenant-Governor  of  this  State.  McClelland  died  April  12, 
1876,  and  Jones,  January  9,  1871. 

The  practical  business  man  of  the  Class  while  a  student,  was 
A.  P.  Cumings,  who  supported  himself  in  college  by  getting  sub- 
scriptions to  the  New  York  Observer  and  other  publications,  in  his 
vacation  excursions  in  the  country  on  horseback.  After  gradua- 
ting, and  studying  theology  at  Princeton,  he  was  taken  into  the 
Observer  firm  as  a  partner,  where  he  remained  for  life,  contributing 
his  financial  skill  in  establishing  one  of  the  most  influential  and 
useful  religious  papers  in  the  country.  He  was  the  oldest  man  in 
his  Class,  and  was  on  the  most  intimate  terms  with  Dr.  Nott,  who 
had  great  confidence  in  his  wisdom  and  integrity.  He  was  boin 
in  Dover,  Dutchess  County,  N.  Y.,  July  4,  1803;  graduated  from 
Princeton  College  in  1835 ;  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Brunswick,  October  21,  1835,  and  was  Editor  of  the  New 
York  Observer  from  1836  to  1871.  While  traveling  in  Europe  in 
1870-71,  lie  was  attacked  by  paralysis  at  Nice,  France,  and  died 
within  a  few  days,  May  13,  1871,  and  was  buried  in  that  city. 

Mr.  Cumings  was  very  active  in  Christian  and  benevolent 
work  in  New  York,  was  a  prominent  director  of  the  American 
Bible  Society,  and  served  for  many  years  on  some  of  its  im- 


15 


portanl  committees.  1 1 < "  was  a  friend  of  education,  and  of  every 
good  cause1  for  ihe  improvement  and  happiness  of  man. 

A  loving  friend  writes:  "The  circumstances  of  his  death  and 
burial  were  in  keeping  with  his  humble,  retiring  life.  In  an  upper 
chamber  of  a  hotel,  at  the  hour  of  midnight,  attended  only  by 
his  wife  and  a  young  friend,  with  two  Italian  men,  the  end  came 
to  him.  Nor  was  his  progress  to  the  grave,  far  from  kindred  and 
home,  marked  by  any  funeral  pageant.  But  in  the  pleasant 
British  Cemetery  of  "  Caucada,"  on  a  hill  overlooking  the  Medi- 
terranean— amid  a  flora  of  unrivalled  beauty  and  surrounded  by 
olive  groves,  there  the  American  traveler,  visiting  that  lovely 
region  for  health  or  pleasure,  may  find  a  stone  inscribed,  "  Abijah 
P.  Cumings,  of  New  York,  U.  S.  A.,  aged  68." 

"  The  tears  of  children  (not  his  own)  whom  he  has  educated — 
of  the  widows  and  orphans  he  has  befriended — of  the  strangers  he 
has  "taken  in" — of  the  "sick  and  in  prison"  he  has  comforted — 
of  the  servants  of  his  own  household,  will  not  fall  upon  that 
grave.  But  the  remembrance  of  such  a  man  will  live  in  a  multi- 
tude of  hearts." 


One  of  the  ablest  and  most  useful  men  of  the  Class  was  Eev. 
James  M.  McDonald,  D.  D.  He  was  bom  in  Limerick,  Maine, 
May  22,  4812.  He  pursued  his  theological  studies  at  Yale 
College.  In  1835  he  was  settled  pastor  of  the  Congregational 
Church  in  Worthington,  Conn.,  and  in  1837,  of  the  Church  in 
New  London — was  called  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  Jamaica, 
L.  L,  in  1841 ;  and  in  1850,  to  the  Fifteenth  Street  Presbyterian 
Church  of  New  York;  and  two  years  later,  to  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  Princeton,  N.  J.,  where,  for  more  than  twenty  years,  he 
continued  to  preach  the  gospel  with  great  success. 

He  was  a  voluminous  writer.  The  following  are  the  titles  of 
some  of  his  publications  :  "  Credulity,  as  illustrated  by  successful 
impostures  in  Science,  Superstition  and  Fanaticism;  "  "Key  to  the 
Book  of  Kevelation ; "  "  History  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Jamaica;"  "My  Father's  House,  or  the  Heaven  of  the  Bible;" 
"  The  Book  of  Ecclesiastes  Explained ; "  and  "  The  Life  of  St. 


16 


John."  He  was  a  frequent  contributor  to  the  Princeton  Review 
and  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra. 

He  was  a  man  of  fine  personal  appearance,  of  genial  and 
attractive  manners,  of  large  and  varied  learning  in  his  profession. 
He  was  prudent  in  speech,  wise  in  counsel,  positive  in  his  convic- 
tions, and  earnest  in  his  advocacy  of  the  truths  of  religion.  He 
died,  sincerely  lamented,  April  19,  1876. 

J.  T.  Farnham,  although  not  a  graduate,  was  a  member  of  our 
Class.  The  college  afterward  conferred  a  degree  upon  him.  In 
some  respects,  he  was  a  remarkable  character.  Tall,  and  of  com- 
manding personal  appearance,  he  was  sure  to  attract  attention. 
Eestless  in  spirit  and  fond  of  adventure,  he  cound  not  be  confined 
to  any  ordinary  pursuit,  and  at  a  very  early  day  after  leaving 
college,  he  set  out  on  the  perilous  undertaking  of  making  his  way 
across  the  continent,  an  account  of  which  he  published  under  the 
title  of  "Travels  in  the  Great  Western  Prairies."  He  afterwards 
published  a  sequel  to  the  first,  entitled  "Life,  Adventures  and 
Travels  in  California."  In  his  preface  to  the  latter  work,  he  says, 
"I  wrote  my  'Travels  in  the  Great  Western  Prairies,'  with  little 
belief  that  they  would  excite  any  attention  beyond  the  circle  in 
which  personal  friendship  would  in  some  sense  link  the  reader 
with  the  events  narrated.  I  did  not  comprehend  the  extensive 
interest  felt  in  journeying  over  the  wild  and  barren' realms  of 
uncultivated  nature.  I  did  not  suppose  that  the  dim  outline 
which  words  could  give  of  the  snow-clad  peak,  the  desert-vale, 
and  the  trials  and  dangers  which  crowd  about  the  pilgrim  on  the 
western  deserts  and  mountains,  could  be  made  sufficiently  distinct 
to  conve}^  even  a  satisfactory  shadow  of  their  sublime,  fearful 
nature.  But  the  very  unexpected  favor  with  which  that  work  has 
been  received,  has  led  me  to  conclude  that  such  matters,  related  as 
far  as  they  may  be  at  all,  with  fidelity,  are  valued  as  useful 
knowledge.  Indeed,  we  may  learn  much  from  the  pulseless  soli- 
tudes— from  the  desert  untrodden  by  the  foot  of  living  thing — 
from  the  frozen  world  of  mountains,  whose  chasms  and  cliffs 
never  echoed  to  aught  but  the  thunder  tempests  girding  their 
frozen  peaks — from  old  nature,  piled,  rocky,  bladeless,  toneless — if 


17 


we  will  allow  its  lessons  of  awe  to  react  the  mind  and  impress  it 
with  the  fresh  and  holy  images  which  they  were  made  to  inspire" 
In  his  first  work,  "]  left,"  he  says,  "my  readers  off  the  mouth  of 
Columbia.  River,  in  sight  of  the  green  coast  of  Oregon.  Lower 
Oregon!  A  verdant  belt  of  wild  loveliness!  A  great  pack  of 
(lowering  shrubs,  of  forest  pines,  and  clear  streams!  The  old, 
unchanged  home  of  the  Indian;  where  lie  has  hunted  the  moose 
and  deer,  drawn  the  trout  from  the  lake,  and  danced,  sung,  loved, 
and  warred  away  a  thousand  generations." 

I  have  been  unable  to  obtain  any  information  in  regard  to  the 
time  or  circumstances  of  his  death.  His  widow  was,  for  some 
time,  Matron  of  the  prison  at  Sing  Sing,  and  did  much  for  the 
moral  improvement  of  the  prisoners.  In  1844,  I  sent  her  a  set  of 
wall  maps  for  the  benefit  of  the  convicts.  In  acknowledging 
their  receipt,  she  wrote:  ''They  are  of  the  greatest  service  in  the 
course  of  instruction  we  are  now  pursuing.  Half  an  hour  each 
morning  is  spent  in  a  lesson  on  the  early  history  and  discovery  of 
this  Continent,  and  these  maps  add  incalculably  to  the  interest 
which  dull  minds  feel  in  the  mere  narration.  Every  act  of 
liberality  like  this  lightens  our  labors,  and  inspires  hope  and  self- 
respect  in  the  unfortunate  beings  whom  we  are,  in  our  humble 
way,  seeking  to  make  better  and  happier.  Our  success,  thus  far, 
has  been  commensurate  with  our  highest  hopes." 

Mrs.  Farnham  was  the  author  of  several  volumes. 

Eliphalet  Cramer  completed  his  academic  studies  preparatory 
for  college  at  the  Berkshire  Gymnasium  in  1829.  It  was  at  the 
gymnasium  that  I  first  met  him.  At  that  time  he  was  but 
fifteen  years  of  age.  Everybody  liked  "Lif"  Cramer,  as  he  was 
familiarly  called.  He  had  a  kind  heart  and  a  kind  word  for 
everybody.  My  intercourse  with  him  was  intimate.  For  four 
years,  we  were  constant  companions.  We  were  members  of  the 
same  College  societies — the  Philomathian,  the  Kappa  Alpha,  and 
the  Phi  Beta  Kappa,  The  title  of  his  paper,  at  the  graduating 
exercises,  was  "National  Degeneracy." 

I  don't  remember  of  having  met  him  after  we  parted  on  Com- 
mencement day. 


18 


From  an  obituary  sketch  which  lias  been  furnished  by  his 
daughter,  I  have  gained  the  following  particulars :  He  was  the 
eldest  son  of  Hon.  John  Cramer,  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Water- 
lord,  N.  Y. ;  was  born,  June  18,  1813 ;  studied  law  and  was  admit- 
ted to  the  bar ;  removed  in  1837  to  Milwaukee,  Wis. ;  engaged  in 
mercantile  pursuits,  and  was  largely  interested  in  real  estate ;  was 
one  of  the  organizers  and  first  President  of  the  State  Bank  of 
Wisconsin ;  was  one  of  the  earliest  members  of  the  Plymouth 
Church,  a  deacon  and  one  of  its  most  liberal  supporters  ;  was  a 
large  contributor  to  the  funds  for  establishing  Beloit  College  and 
the  Chicago  Theological  Seminary ;  was  proud  of  his  adopted 
city  and  invested  largely  in  its  real  estate  ;  was  in  active  business 
until  two  years  before  his  death  ;  amassed  a  large  fortune,  which 
was  used  for  the  benefit  of  society.  He  died,  September  19,  1872, 
deeply  lamented  by  all  classes  of  society  who  had  shared  in  his 
benefactions.  He  had  contributed  to  the  rapid  and  marvellous 
growth  of  his  adopted  city  and  had  seen  it  a  mere  hamlet  of  a 
few  pioneers  and  backwoodsmen,  rise  to  the  dignity  and  wealth  of 
a  large  commercial  city.  During  his  long  residence  there  of  more 
than  thirty  years,  he  was  honored  with  many  evidences  of  respect 
from  his  fellow  citizens  by  the  offices  of  trust  and  responsibility 
committed  to  his  keeping. 

His  memory  is  lovingly  enshrined  in  many  hearts. 

The  telegraph  brought  the  sad  news  from  Washington,  April  8, 
1882,  of  the  death  of  Thomas  Allen. 

Allen  was  my  life-long  friend.  As  boys,  we  began  our  Aca- 
demic career  together.  Our  fathers  were  farmers  and  lived  in 
distant  parts  of  the  town ;  so  that  in  early  childhood,  we  rarely 
met.  His  father  was  a  leading  citizen,  and  took  a  prominent  part 
in  public  business.  In  this  way,  I  early  came  to  hear  of  Jonathan 
Allen,  the  father  of  our  classmate. 

The  Allen  family  was  distinguished  among  the  yeomanry  of 
the  town  and  State.  The  grandfather,  the  Kev.  Thomas  Allen, 
was  the  first  settled  minister  of  Pittsfield,  and  took  an  active  part 
in  the  American  Revolution.  He  fired  the  first  gun,  on  the  Colo- 
nial side,  at  the  battle  of  Bennington ;  was  instrumental  in  arousing 


19 


the  patriotism  of  the  people  in  Western  Massachusetts,  and  was 
among  the  foremost  by  speech  ;ui<l  pen  in  achieving  our  national 
independence.  After  the  war,  he  took  an  active  part  in  politics. 
His  pulpit  was  the  arena  for  the  examination  of  the  great  under- 
lying principles  of  Republican  institutions.  He  espoused  and 
warmly  advocated  the  political  doctrines  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  lie 
hated  the  dogmas  of  the  Federalists,  as  taught  by  John  Adams 
and  Alexander  Hamilton.  The  party  lines  were  sharp  and  de- 
cisive. Jefferson's  opposition  grew  out  of  his  hostility  to  Mr. 
Hamilton.  They  were  rivals.  Hamilton  had  devised  the  Fund- 
ing System,  which  was  one  of  the  great  measures  which  distin- 
guished Washington's  administration.  The  system  of  revenue 
adopted  under  General  Washington  was  also  the  work  of  this 
distinguished  financier ;  and  so  perfect  was  it  found  to  be  in  prac- 
tice amid  all  the  changes  and  violence  of  party,  and  under  the 
administration  of  those  who  were  originally  opposed  to  its  adop- 
tion, that  they  severally  found  it  necessary  when  placed  at  the  head 
of  the  Government,  to  continue  the  system  which  he  had  devised. 
Even  Mr.  Jefferson  himself,  during  the  eight  years  that  he  held 
the  office  of  chief  magistrate,  never  ventured  to  adopt  a  new  sys- 
tem of  finance ;  but  adhered  in  all  its  essential  particulars  to  that 
devised  by  Hamilton. 

"  The  fighting  parson  "  hated  Federalism  in  politics  as  much  as 
he  did  Armenianism  in  religion.  His  church  was  split  into  fac- 
tions, which  darkened  the  close  of  a  long  and  useful  life.  He  was 
generous,  warm-hearted  and  sympathetic  ;  he  was  the  friend  of  the 
poor  and  sorrowing.  His  funeral  discourses,  many  of  which  were 
published,  were  remarkably  tender  and  affectionate — a  literature 
which  has  almost  entirely  passed  away.  On  marriage  and  festive 
occasions,  he  was  the  life  of  the  company.  All  could  approach 
and  share  in  his  genial  nature.  But,  mention  the  subject  of  pol- 
itics, during  a  Presidential  campaign,  and  his  whole  nature  was  in  a 
blaze.  In  the  political  struggles  of  our  own  times,  we  have  hardly 
anything  to  match  it.  But,  in  it  all,  he  was  thoroughly  honest 
and  disinterested. 

I  present  the  foregoing  historical  data  as  a  background  to  the 
portrait  I  would  draw  of  our  democratic  classmate.    He  was  a 


20 


worthy  scion  of  the  old  Berkshire  parson.  Honest,  but  never 
offensive,  in  the  maintainance  and  declaration  of  his  opinions,  he 
rarely  excited  antagonisms  such  as  we  have  noticed  in  respect  to 
his  grandfather.  He  was  born  in  Pittsfield,  August  29,  1813. 
Passing  his  childhood  and  youth  on  his  fathers  farm,  and  attend- 
ing the  village  academy  and  the  Berkshire  Gymnasium  under 
that  accomplished  teacher,  Prof.  Chester  Dewey,  he  fitted  himself 
for  and  entered  college  in  1830.  Neither  in  the  gymnasium  nor 
the  college  did  he  attain  the  highest  rank  for  scholarship.  His 
standing  was  respectable.  He  was  popular  with  the  faculty  and 
the  students.  His  preferences  in  study  were  natural  history  rather 
than  mathematics  or  the  ancient  classics.  He  excelled  in  English 
composition.  In  manners  he  was  dignified  and  genial,  was  kind 
and  true  in  his  friendships.  He  was  an  ardent  lover  of  nature — 
was  fond  of  rural  sports.  His  rod  and  his  gun  were  his  constant 
companions  during  vacation.  He  loved  to  throw  the  fly  to 
the  speckled  trout,  and  chase  the  fox  over  hill  and  valley.  He 
was  a  close  observer  of  the  peculiarities  and  habits  of  wild 
animals.  He  studied  birds,  and  used  to  dissect  them  for  instruc- 
tion and  amusement.  Had  he  been  under  the  tuition  of  Audubon, 
he  would  have  ranked  high  as  an  ornithologist.  He  had  an  eye  for 
form  and  color,  and  would  have  shone  as  an  artist.  His  tempera- 
ment was  delicate  and  in  sympathy  with  the  aesthetic  and  beautiful 
rather  than  the  abstract  in  speculative  philosophy.  We  boys 
knew  each  other — our  tastes,  our  trials,  our  aspirations.  We 
dreamed  and  speculated  about  the  future.  We  built  air  castles 
and  filled  them  with  precious  treasures.  What  young  man  don't 
do  this? 

Before  leaving  college,  he  chose  the  law  for  his  profession. 
With  twenty-five  dollars,  the  only  patrimony  his  father  could 
give  him,  he  set  out  for  New  York,  in  the  Fall  of  1832,  and 
entered  upon  the  study  of  law.  From  that  city  he  wrote  me  in 
the  Spring  of  1833.  A  few  extracts  from  his  letter  I  will  give, 
to  show  the  character  of  the  young  man  who  had  not  reached  his 
twentieth  year. 

In  speaking  of  the  choice  of  a  profession,  he  says:  "I  have 
long  been  of  opinion  it  is  best  for  a  man  to  follow  nature.  He 


2  1 


should  examine  himself,  and  ask  where  he  can  shine  with  1  he  most 
honor  and  profit  Can  he  command  an  army  or  a  fleet?  Has  he 
the  art  of  a  Courtier?  Has  he  those  qualities  of  mind,  manner 
and  speech  which  will  make  him  shine  at  the  bar?  Or,  has 
nature  fitted  him  for  the  clerical  or  medical  profession?  Once 
settled,  lie  should  choose  without  delay.  Let  everything  be 
sacrificed,  except,  of  course,  those  finer  qualities  of  the  heart 
without  which  man  is  a  brute,  and  no  profession  should,  or  does, 
exclude  their  cultivation. 

"  Now,  then,  if  you  are  after  money,  there  is  none  more  profit- 
able on  that  point  than  the  law.  If  honor,  lay  hold  of  the  law.  If 
political  eminence,  lay  hold  of  the  law.  As  a  science,  none  goes 
beyond  it  in  dignity  or  extent.  As  a  study,  you  will  find  channels 
of  amusement  and  instruction  that  extend  into  every  department 
of  Mfe. 

"  Now,  then,  for  a  location.  If  you  mean  to  depend  upon  the 
pure  practice  of  the  profession  you  choose,  of  all  places  in  this 
country  this  is  the  one,  the  city  of  New  York.  I  found  when  I 
came  here,  with  all  my  college  pedantry  and  imaginary  knowledge 
I  just  knew  nothing  at  all.  Our  college  life  put  trammels  upon 
us  which  it  is  difficult  to  throw  off.  Those  very  trammels  are  on 
you  now.  You  are  dreaming,  refining,  fearful,  apprehensive, 
undecided  ;  but  such  a  man  will  find  no  sympathy  with  the  world. 
You  must  come  out  and  take  an  active  and  decided  part.  Men 
of  the  world  are  all  in  action,  contending  with  each  other,  face  to 
face,  for  honor  and  independence.  You  must  come  out ;  and,  if 
you  would  do  as  other,  and  perhaps  as  the  most  successful  are 
doing,  you  must  hambug  the  people.  The  science  of  humbug  is 
getting  to  be  the  most  profitable  of  all  sciences.  We  have  been 
humbugged  long  enough.    Let  us  take  our  turn  and  humbug,  too. 

"  I  have  had  a  sneaking  notion  of  going  West ;  and,  if  I 
should  get  a  good  offer,  I  may  go  yet.  The  chances  for  political 
eminence  are  greater  there  than  anywhere  else. 

"But  the  practice  of  the  law  there  must  be  rather  slim.  Lands 
are  so  cheap  that  there  is  every  chance  for  profitable  speculation, 
inasmuch  as  they  are  increasing  very  fast  in  value.  If  you  should 
go  there,  you  might  ultimately  find  yourself  an  extensive  land- 


22 


owner,  and,  having  grown  np  witli  the  country,  be  revered  as  one 
of  its  patriarchs.  You  might  be  a  Governor,  a  Judge,  or  a 
Congressman !  " 

Sagacious  youth !  All  this  he  realized  in  himself !  In  the 
boy  we  see  the  promise  which  has  been  signally  fulfilled  in  the 
man  ! 

Mr.  Allen  went  West  and  amassed  a  colossal  fortune.  Such 
success  would  have  upset  the  mental  equilibrium  of  many  a  man. 
But  it  did  not  serve  to  disturb  his.  By  wise  and  judicious 
management  he  secured  the  object  of  his  ambition,  and  it  required 
all  his  thought  and  skill  to  keep  and  maintain  it.  His  burdens, 
great  as  they  must  have  been,  seemed  to  rest  lightly  upon  his 
shoulders.  In  conversation  with  him,  no  one  would  have  thought 
that  he  had  any  cares.  He  was  always  calm  and  self-possessed. 
He  put  on  no  airs.  In  manners,  he  was  courteous  and  affable, 
kind  and  thoughtful  of  others.  His  charities  were  large,  but 
without  ostentation.  Among  these  was  the  founding  of  a  pro- 
fessorship of  Mining  and  Metallurgy  in  Washington  University  of 
St.  Louis,  and  the  building  of  a  costly  public  library  for  his  native 
town.  He  purchased  his  grandfather's  estate  in  Pittsheld,  and 
erected  a  costly  residence  for  his  family.  Here  he  passed  his 
summers  in  cultivating  an  extensive  farm  and  rearing  a  choice 
breed  of  Jerse}T  cattle.  It  was  returning  to  the  rural  scenes  and 
occupations  of  his  boyhood.  It  was  refreshing  to  drive  with  him 
over  his  well-cultivated  acres,  and  witness  the  interest  he  took  in 
all  the  details  of  his  well-managed  farm.  Every  cow's  milk  was 
weighed,  night  and  morning,  and  a  record  of  it  made.  The 
arrangements  for  butter-making  were  excellent.  He  took  great 
pride  in  showing  his  friends  what  a  busy  man  could  provide  in 
the  way  of  relaxation  and  amusement.  Allen  lived  like  a  prince, 
but  without  ostentation.  He  had  his  private  palace-car,  fitted  up 
with  every  convenience  for  housekeeping,  which  he  was  privileged 
to  order  hitched  to  any  train  on  any  of  the  great  railroad  lines,  and 
traverse  the  Continent  at  his  pleasure — a  contrast  between  this  and 
the  old  stage-coach  we  used  to  travel  in,  in  our  college  clays,  when, 
in  the  muddy  season,  he  and  I  had  to  carry  rails  to  pry  it  out  of 
the  mire ! 


23 


Tn  contemplating  such  a  career,  we  find  much  to  admire.  If 
measured  by  human  standards,  it  is  one  of  signal  success.  It  meets 
the  ideal  of  this  age  of  materialism.  With  the  multitudes,  success 
in  the  accumulation  of  wealth  is  the  only  passport  to  greatness. 
The  Goulds  and  the  Vanderbilts  are  the  heroes  of  this  generation. 
Great  intellectual  abilities,  great  literary  or  scientific  acquisitions, 
unattended  by  wealth,  are  insignificant  trophies  in  the  battle  of 
life! 

A  man  is  measured  by  his  outward  possessions  rather  than  by 
his  culture  and  moral  wealth.  But  it  is  true  of  Allen  that  he 
alwaj^s  cultivated  a  love  of  the  beautiful  in  nature  and  art.  The 
accumulation  of  wealth  did  not  deaden  his  assthetic  sensibilities  or 
moral  instincts.  He  was  simple  and  temperate  in  his  habits.  The 
coarseness  and  vulgarity  which  are  often  associated  with  men  of 
hastily  accumulated  fortunes  were  never  seen  in  Allen.  He  was 
too  great  a  man  for  that.  He  had  lofty  ideals  of  human  greatness. 
He  was  familiar  with  the  great  names  of  antiquity.  He  worshipped 
the  patriots,  orators  and  statesmen  of  his  own  country.  These  had 
greater  charms  for  him  than  the  tinsel  of  wealth.  He  was  a  man 
of  culture,  and  had  an  extensive  knowledge  of  men  and  institutions. 

I  need  not  do  more  than  recite  the  steps  in  his  successful 
career.  That  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1835  ;  that,  soon 
after,  he  took  an  interest  in  the  politics  of  the  day ;  that,  in 
1837,  he  established  the  Madisonian,  a  political  newspaper,  in 
"Washington ;  that  he  was,  soon  after,  elected  printer  to  the  House, 
and  afterward  printer  to  the  Senate ;  that,  in  1842,  he  went  from 
Washington  to  St.  Louis  to  reside ;  that  he  there  took  an  active 
part  in  connection  with  public  improvements;  that,  in  1848,  he 
prepared  an  address  in  favor  of  the  construction  of  the  St.  Louis 
and  Cincinnati  Railway  ;  that  he  built  the  first  railway  west  of  the 
Mississippi ;  that  he  was  instrumental  in  securing  a  railroad  to  the 
Pacific ;  that  he  was  for  many  years  a  railway  president ;  that  he 
projected  and  built  over  1,000  miles  of  railroad ;  that,  in  1867,  he 
bought  the  Iron  Mountain  Railroad  and  Cairo  &  Fulton  Railroad, 
and  completed  them  in  two  years  ;  that  he  was  a  member  of  the 
Missouri  Senate  from  1850  to  1854 ;  that,  in  1880,  he  was  elected 


24 


to  the  47th  Congress  as  a  Democrat,  and  that,  soon  after,  he  sold 
li is  railway  interests  and  retired  from  active  business. 

These  are  some  of  the  rounds  in  the  ladder  of  his  successful 
career.  He  had  gained  all  that  this  world  could  afford  of  wealth, 
honor  and  position ;  he  had  reared  a  large  and  interesting  family ; 
he  had  secured  the  confidence  and  respect  of  a  large  circle  of 
acquaintances ;  he  had  nearly  reached  the  limit  of  human  life;  he 
hoped  to  spend  its  evening  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  accumulated 
treasures ;  to  receive  the  congratulations  of  friends  for  many  years 
to  come ;  to  cany  into  execution  cherished  plans  for  the  advance- 
ment of  collegiate  education ;  to  witness  the  deepening  shadows  of 
a  slowly  descending  sun,  and  to  sink  at  last,  without  pain  and 
without  regret,  into  the  bosom  of  his  loving  mother— earth  ! 

But,  while  standing  in  the  council  chamber  of  the  Nation,  with 
the  possibilities  of  making  an  honorable  reputation  in  parliamentary 
practice,  the  death-struggle  sharp  and  fierce,  came  suddenly  upon 
him,  and  summoned  him  into  another  Presence  and  other 
occupations ! 

As  I  stood,  the  other  day,  by  his  newly-made  grave,  on  which 
the  floral  offerings  of  affection  were  withering  in  the  morning  sun, 
emblems  of  all  earthly  objects,  I  felt  that,  after  all,  there  remained 
something  over  which  Death  had  no  control — and  that  was  the 
imperishable  character  of  such  a  spirit  as  his!  That  abides!  The 
flowers  may  fade ;  the  winds  may  sing  their  requiem  and  die 
away  ;  the  carol  of  birds  may  be  heard  at  noon  and  eventide ;  but 
the  night  cometh  when  no  song  of  thrush  or  robin  is  heard  !  The 
green-leafy  robe  of  June  puts  on  its  many-tinted  autumnal  colors, 
and  all  is  changed.  So  with  this  mortal  life  of  ours.  It  passes 
away  as  a  shadow,  but  the  spirit  abides  ! 

In  conclusion,  I  wish  to  put  on  record  this  interesting  testimony 
to  his  trust  in  Divine  Providence.  In  his  last  illness,  he  said :  "I 
know  not  how  it  is  with  other  men,  but  I  have  been  a  man 
of  prayer  all  my  life.  I  have  always,  before  important  decisions, 
sought  guidance  from  God."  In  the  excruciating  agony  he 
suffered,  toward  the  last,  he  had  the  most  convincing  evidence  of 
God's  presence  and  revelations  of  God  to  Ins  soul,  as  he  joyfully 
expressed  it.    His  joy  was  full ! 


25 


The  usual  Congressional  honors  were  paid  to  his  memory  by 
Mr.  Dawes  of  the  Senate  and  Mr.  Cockrell  of  the  House.  Brief 
funeral  services  were  held  in  Washington,  at  which  there  was  a 
large  attendance  of  Senators  and  Eepresentatives.  A  Congressional 
Committee  accompanied  his  remains  to  Pittsfield.  Funeral  services 
were  held  in  the  Congregational  Church.  The  Eev.  J.  L.  Jenkins 
officiated,  preaching  from  the  text,  "Samuel  died,  and  all  the 
Israelites  gathered  together  and  lamented  him,  and  they  buried 
him  in  his  house  at  Ramah." 

To  relieve  my  paper  of  its  sobriety,  perhaps  I  should  say,  of  its 
dullness,  permit  me  to  tell  a  college  story,  the  points  of  which  were 
given  me  by  an  eye-witness,  Wells  S.  Hammond,  of  the  Class  of 
1833  ;  also  by  Prof.  Averill. 

Do  you  remember  the  Callithumpian  Society  ?  It  was  a  curious 
association.  It  operated  at  night.  It  visited  the  rooms  of  novices 
and  weak-minded  students,  and  spent  the  night  in  discussing  all 
sorts  of  questions.  One  of  its  rules  was  that  every  member 
should  speak  two  hours  without  stopping.  In  that  way  the  hours 
of  the  night  were  spent  and  their  host  victimized. 

On  one  occasion,  the  consent  of  Rockwood,  who  was  in  the  class 
below  us,  was  obtained  to  hold  their  meeting  at  his  room. 
Rockwood,  understanding  the  character  of  his  guests  and  the 
object  of  their  meetings,  supplied  a  very  liberal  quantity  of  beer 
for  their  entertainment,  which  he  was  wicked  enough  to  drug  with 
ipecac.  On  reaching  the  short  hours  of  the  morning,  he  informed 
his  guests  that  it  was  time  for  refreshments ;  and,  going  to  his 
closet,  took  a  bottle  of  beer  and  asked  them  to  help  themselves. 
They  all  cried  out,  "It  isn't  good,  is  it?"  Well,  on  drawing  the 
cork  to  his  bottle,  which  he  had  not  drugged,  he  said,  "  You  can 
do  as  you  please;  I'm  going  to  have  some."  Then  there  was  a 
general  scramble  for  the  bottles,  and  the  beer  was  drunk  in 
complimentary  toasts  in  honor  of  their  liberal  host. 

The  debate  was  resumed.  Soon  a  member  quietly  left  the 
room,  and  then  another,  and  another,  till  Rockwood  and  his 
friend  Hammond,  who  had  shared  the  good  beer,  were  left  alone. 
It  was  a  quiet,  beautiful  night.    The  stars  looked  down  from  their 


26 


azure  heights.  The  good  people  of  the  college  and  vicinity  were 
soundly  sleeping.  There  was  naught  to  disturb  the  quiet  of  this 
peaceful  night  till  these  midnight  debators  went  forth  in  all 
directions  and  poured  out,  in  flowing  streams,  the  most  impassioned 
eloquence,  not  from  their  tongues,  but  from  organs  more  deeply 
seated  and  more  acutely  sensitive  to  the  ravishing  power  of 
stimulants. 

After  enjoying  the  fun  of  this  midnight  concert,  the  wicked 
Rock  wood  and  his  friend  returned  to  their  rooms  and  slept  out  the 
balance  of  the  night.  There  were  no  Callithumpians  at  the  next 
morning  prayers.  They  were  even  absent  from  class-room  duties. 
Where  are  they  ?  it  was  asked.  The  secret  leaked  out.  Every- 
body soon  knew  it.  The  professors  were  delighted.  The  students 
said  it  was  a  good  joke.  In  fact,  everybody  was  pleased  except 
the  Callithumpians,  who  had  taken  more  stock  than  they  could 
carry,  and  were  obliged  to  visit  their  parental  abodes  for  the 
invigorating  influences  of  diet  and  rest. 

When  we  entered  Union  College,  in  1830,  Dr.  Nott  was  in  the 
zenith  of  his  popularity,  and  was  regarded  by  many  as  the  greatest 
of  college  presidents.  The  largest  classes  were  graduated  from 
this  institution.  Many  came  from  other  colleges  to  pass  their 
senior  year  and  receive  the  instruction  of  Dr.  Nott  in  Kame's 
Elements  of  Criticism.  The  government  of  the  college  was 
administered  by  him.'  No  case  of  discipline  was  entrusted  to  the 
professors.  That  he  might  exercise  constant  supervision  over  the 
young,  he  took  up  his  residence  at  the  college.  His  government 
was  parental.  By  kindness,  he  was  able  to  guide  the  most  way- 
ward and  refractor}^.  Such  was  the  power  of  his  appeals,  the  most 
hardened  and  erring  would  relent  and  listen  to  the  voice  of 
wisdom.  Many  a  promising  young  man  was  thus  saved  to  his 
family  and  society.  There  is  no  written  record,  but  here  is  to  be 
found  the  great  moral  value  of  the  life  and  services  of  Dr.  Nott, — 
he  saved  young  man.  Who  of  his  pupils  does  not  remember  his 
eloquent  appeals  in  behalf  of  temperance  and  morality  and  of 
immediate  consecration  to  Christ?  In  seasons  of  great  religious 
<  \\(-itement,  which  frequently  visited  the  college,  the  scoffing  and 


27 


profane  were  silenced,  and  induced,  in  many  cases,  to  enter  upon 
the  Christian  life. 

Dr.  Nott  was  the  father  of  the  Common  School  system  of 
education  in  this  State.  He  saw  that  colleges  could  not  flourish 
without  the  general  education  of  the  people — that  common  schools 
would  feed  the  academies,  and  the  academies  the  colleges — that 
they  were  essential  parts  in  a  system  of  universal  education,  in 
which  every  man,  woman  and  child  had  an  interest.  While  he 
was  seeking  from  the  Legislature  an  endowment  for  his  college,  he 
introduced,  at  the  same  time,  a  bill  for  the  appropriation  of  the 
sales  of  the  public  lands  for  the  support  of  common  schools.  Both 
bills  met  with  bitter  opposition  ;  but,  by  judicious  management  on 
the  part  of  Dr.  Nott,  they  both  passed  and  received  the  signature 
of  the  Governor,  Morgan  Lewis.  The  Doctor  was  generous  enough 
to  have  all  the  colleges  of  the  State  share  in  the  college  appropria- 
tion. The  sum  asked  for  Union  College  was  only  $45,000,  and 
this  was  to  be  raised  by  the  license  of  lotteries.  The  grant  was 
increased  to  $80,000.  After  completing  the  stone  college  building 
with  moneys  thus  appropriated,  it  was  found  that  the  college  site 
in  the  heart  of  the  city  was  undesirable  ;  and  Dr.  Nott,  on  his  own 
responsibility,  purchased  some  three  hundred  acres  of  land  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  town  and  erected  the  college  edifices  now  in  use. 
This  was  in  1812.  Two  years  later,  the  Legislature  passed  an  act 
for  the  further  endowment  of  the  college,  which  put  it  upon  a  firm 
financial  basis.  What  is  very  remarkable  in  this  negotiation  of  all 
the  collegiate  interests  of  the  State,  which  were  left,  by  consent  of 
Columbia  College,  in  the  hands  of  Dr.  Nott  is,  that  that  institution 
came  into  possession  of  its  great  wealth  through  the  good  manage- 
ment of  the  Doctor.  I  have  no  space  for  this  interesting  history, 
and  must  pass  it.  By  forecast  and  wisdom  in  the  management  of 
these  great  educational  interests,  the  memory  of  Dr.  Nott  ought  to 
be  kept  green  in  all  time  to  come  by  the  people  of  this  State. 

While  Dr.  Nott  was  not  a  man  of  profound  learning,  he  was 
an  orator  of  commanding  eloquence.  It  was  not  so  much  the 
matter  of  his  discourse  as  the  manner  in  which  he  said  it.  There 
was  a  freshness  and  sparkle  in  his  style  which  captivated  his 
hearers.    Although  his  blade  was  double-edged  and  trenchant,  he 


28 


could  Wreath  it  with  flowers  and  play  with  his  antagonist;  or,  if 
necessary,  he  could  send  it  crashing  through  helmet  and  cuirass. 

The  oration  which  gave  Dr.  Nott  a  national  reputation  was 
his  eulogy  on  the  death  of  Alexander  Hamilton,  delivered  at 
Albany  in  1804.  Hamilton  was  the  idol  of  the  American  people. 
He  had  been  of  great  patriotic  service  in  securing  our  national 
independence.  He  was  Washington's  right-hand  man,  the  gallant 
officer,  the  distinguished  patriot,  the  great  financier.  He  had  fallen 
in  an  ignoble  duel  with  Aaron  Burr.  The  nation  was  in  tears,  as  it 
was,  last  year,  by  the  tragic  death  of  Garfield.  Funeral  orations 
were  pronounced  from  forum  and  pulpit,  in  all  the  leading  cities  of 
the  land.  It  was  a  great  theme.  An  immense  audience  of  the 
citizens  of  Albany,  without  regard  to  party,  assembled  to  hear  the 
great  clergyman.  Dr.  Nott  was  in  sympathy  with  the  occasion. 
He  was  a  warm  personal  friend  of  Hamilton  and  admired  his 
genius.  From  a  few  hastily  prepared  notes  to  guide  his  thoughts, 
he  poured  forth  one  of  the  most  masterly  orations  of  his  life. 
The  effect  was  electric.  The  audience  was  convulsed.  Indigna- 
tion and  sorrow  alternated — sorrow  for  the  nation's  loss,  and 
indignation  toward  the  assassin.  The  system  of  duelling  was 
denounced,  the  value  of  human  life  exhalted.  A  friend  of  mine 
was  present,  and  such,  said  he,  was  the  effect  upon  him,  that  he 
hardly  knew  whether  he  was  in  the  flesh  or  out. 

The  Doctor,  afterward,  wrote  out  his  oration  for  the  press.  It 
was  a  mistake.  It  is  the  skeleton,  without  the  animating  pres- 
ence' of  the  orator.  The  Doctor,  it  is  said,  afterward  regretted  its 
publication. 

Dr.  Nott  could  never  call  a  student  by  name ;  but  yet  he 
knew  every  man  by  his  walk  ;  and  one  man  he  knew  by  his  run. 
Lathrop  had  been  down  to  the  hotel  to  see  some  friends,  and  re- 
turning late  in  the  evening  and  passing  by  the  Doctor's  door,  was 
surprized  by  the  Doctor's  suddenly  coming  down  the  steps.  Lath- 
rop started  upon  a  run  and  the  Doctor  set  out  in  pursuit.  Turn- 
ing round  the  corner  by  the  south  colonnade,  they  had  it  "  nip  and 
tuck."  Down  the  walk  to  the  garden  they  went  at  a  break- 
neck pace.  Lathrop  was  muscular  and  long-winded ;  but  by  the 
dexterous  use  of   his  longer  legs,  the   doctor  was  evidently 


29 


gaining  upon  his  competitor,  when  Latlirop  put  into  the  garden, 
and  running  among  the  evergreens,  escaped.  The  next  morning, 
Latlirop  was  summoned  to  the  Doctor's  study.  "  Well,  my  son,'r 
said  the  Doctor,  "  we  had  a  nice  race,  last  night."  "  Yes,"  said 
Latlirop,  "  I  didn't  know,  Doctor,  there  was  so  much  speed  in  the 
old  horse  !  "  An  explanation  followed,  and  Lathrop  was  advised 
never  to  run  without  cause. 

Many  instances  of  Dr.  Nott's  power  over  masses  of  excited 
men  might  be  given.  One  must  suffice.  Soon  after  our  leaving 
college,  a  serious  difficulty  sprung  up  between  the  college  students 
and  the  roughs  living  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city.  Some  of  the 
bo}Ts  had  been  roughly  handled.  The  spirit  of  retaliation  was 
aroused  ;  and  what,  at  first,  was  but  a  spark,  soon  kindled  into  a 
flame.  War  was  declared.  The  students  taking  advantage  of  the 
absence  of  Dr.  Nott,  armed  themselves  with  guns,  clubs  and  pis- 
tols, and  formed  themselves  into  line  in  front  of  the  college  build-, 
ings  in  readiness  to  march  on  their  bloody  fray.  The  professors 
expostulating  in  vain,  finally  ordered  them  to  their  rooms.  This 
only  kindled  their  ire  and  stimulated  their  courage.  Disperse 
they  would  not,  tight  they  would.  Becoming  turbulent  and  in- 
sulting to  the  college  authorities,  they  set  out  upon  their  perilous 
march  to  avenge  their  insulted  honor.  Dr.  Nott,  who  was  in  Al- 
bany, had  been  notified  of  the  condition  of  things,  and  taking  the 
first  train,  arrived  in  time  to  meet  the  belligerents  on  their  way  to 
the  battlefield.  Expressing  no  surprise,  he  quietly  asked  what  was 
up  ?  We  are  going  to  fight  the  "  niggers,"  said  the  captain ;  they 
have  insulted  us,  and  we'll  stand  it  no  longer.  Entering  at  once 
into  sympathy  with  their  plan,  he  told  them  they  were  right ;  that 
it  would  be  cowardly  and  degrading  to  submit  to  such  repeated 
instances  of  provocation  ;  but  at  the  same  time  informed  them  that 
there  was  policy  in  war,  that  he  would  espouse  their  cause,  pro- 
vided they  would  listen  to  his  advice.  Yielding  a  ready  com- 
pliance, they  asked  him  to  take  the  matter  into  his  own  hands. 
With  ten  of  your  party,  I  can  whip  an  army  of  roughs.  "  Do  it, 
do  it,"  was  the  ready  reply. 

Selecting  the  leading  spirits  of  the  party  and  giving  their  arms 
to  the  other  boys,  he  said  "  take  these  weapons  back  to  college  and 


30 


go  to  your  studies."  Doing  as  they  were  bidden,  they  marched 
back,  while  the  Doctor  taking  command  of  his  little  unarmed  band 
went  to  the  spot  where  were  gathered  the  opposing  host  ready  for 
the  fray.  In  confronting  them,  the  Doctor  made  one  of  his  charac- 
teristic speeches,  calling  attention  to  the  smallness  of  his  party, 
that  they  had  not  come  to  do  them  harm,  that  it  was  a  misfortune 
that  any  unkind  feeling  should  exist  between  them  and  his  boys, 
that  it  was  a  mistaken  idea  if  they  thought  the  college  boys  would 
fight  the  citizens  of  Schenectady — they  would  do  no  such  thing. 
He  then  drew  a  graphic  picture  of  their  importance  to  society,  that 
the  foundations  of  the  business  world  rest  on  their  shoulders. 
He  pointed  out  the  folly  of  neighborhood  quarrels,  the  value  of 
peace  and  good  order,  ridiculed  the  idea  of  throwing  mud  and 
brickbats.  So  completely  did  he  obtain  the  mastery  over  them, 
they  set  up  a  shout  of  applause  and  declared  that  they  were  will- 
ing to  live  in  peace.  Congratulating  them  on  their  good  resolu- 
tions, the  Doctor  and  his  party  retired — the  chasm  was  bridged — 
a  bloodless  victory  won. 

Dr.  Nott  was  profoundly  skilled  in  diplomacy.  He  was  a 
born  ruler  of  men.  For  years  the  State  Legislature  was  under  his 
control.  I  don't  know  that  he  ever  abused  this  power,  unless  it 
was  in  the  instance  I  am  about  to  relate.  He  was  a  trainer  of 
politicians.  William  H.  Seward,  John  C.  Spencer  and  many 
others  were  instructed  by  the  Doctor  in  statescraft.  He  was 
always  consulted  in  cases  of  political  emergency.  When  the 
Trustees  of  Union  College  tried  to  get  a  little  official  power,  for 
the  Doctor  had  it  all,  for  the  sake  of  keeping  it  he  circumvented 
the  Trustees  by  introducing  a  bill  asking  the  Legislature  to  con- 
tinue to  the  Trustees  all  the  power  they  ever  had.  It  was  a 
lengthy  document  and  most  skillfully  drawn  up.  It  was  mostly 
devoted  to  the  importance  of  opening  a  street  in  the  suburbs  of 
Schenectady,  and  toward  its  close,  the  jewelled  sentence  that  the 
Trustees  of  Union  College  have  the  same  power  they  always  had 
had  (which  was  none  at  all),  was  hidden  in  the  voluminous  mass. 
The  members  of  the  Assembly  had  tired  of  the  reading  and  were 
willing  that  the  street  and  fifty  others  if  desired,  should  be  opened, 
and  so  passed  the  bill,  and  the  little  Trustee-clause  with  it. 


31 


Dr.  Nott,  in  one  of  his  lectures  on  Kame's  Elements  of  Criti- 
cism, said  to  us,  "  Young  gentlemen,  never  yield  to  anger.  When 
a  boy,  I  learned  the  folly  of  that  weakness.  I  was  trying  to  drive 
some  unruly  cattle,  and  became  greatly  enraged  and  vented  my 
wrath  in  very  unbecoming  language.  On  looking  around,  I  saw 
some  of  my  young  lady  acquaintances  who  were  enjoying  the  fun 
at  my  expense.  I  was  mortified,  and  vowed  that  I  would  never 
make  a  fool  of  myself  again.  It  will  not  do  in  any  department 
of  professional  life  to  lose  your  temper ;  for  by  so  doing,  you  put 
a  weapon  into  the  hands  of  your  adversary,  and  your  power  is 
gone." 

As  a  presiding  officer  over  popular  assemblies,  Dr.  Nott  had 
no  superior.  Dignified  in  person,  and  courteous  in  manner,  he  won 
the  admiration  of  all.  His  sympathies  were  always  with  the 
unfortunate.  He  leaned  to  the  side  of  mercy.  In  the  famous  trial 
of  Hooper  Cumming,  before  the  Presbytery  of  Albany,  in  1817, 
for  intemperance  and  plagiarism  in  having  preached  one  of  Dr. 
Channing's  sermons,  Dr.  Nott  was  Moderator.  But,  notwithstand- 
ing the  provocation  he  had  received  from  Mr.  Cumming,  who  had 
preached  two  of  the  Doctor's  sermons  in  Schenectady,  the  Doctor 
being  present,  he  did  what  he  could  at  the  trial  to  diminish  the 
prejudice  against  the  accused  and  save  the  eloquent  preacher.  Dr. 
Nott  was  interested  in  several  mechanical  enterprises,  invented  a 
stove  for  the  burning  of  anthracite  coal,  also  a  new  form  of  steam 
boiler  for  the  propelling  of  boats.  But  in  the  latter,  he  met  with 
no  very  great  success.  In  his  management  of  young  men,  there 
was  this  peculiarity  in  his  instructions.  He  would  preserve  every 
man's  individuality.  Each  thought  and  acted  for  himself,  so 
that  on  all  public  occasions  there  was  a  charming  variety  of  in- 
dividuality in  their  orations. 

The  following  item  was  obtained  from  a  little  book  written  by 
a  lady :  "  On  his  seventy-sixth  birthday,  June  25,  1849,  a  com- 
mittee of  the  senior  class  waited  on  him,  requesting  permission  to 
have  a  general  college  celebration  of  his  birthday.  At  this,  he 
seemed  much  surprised,  and  asked,  ' '  How  in  the  world  did  you 
learn  that?  "  "  Really,  I  did  not  know  it  myself;  but  if  it  be  so, 
boys,  that  I  am  another  year  older,  and  you  wish  to  celebrate  it, 


32 


you  must  do  it  in  the  way  I  am  going  to — work  with  all  your 
might''  But,  said  they,  "we  would  like  to  illuminate  the  col- 
lege." "  Illuminate  the  college!"  said  he,  "  why,  what  an  idea ! 
such  a  thing  was  never  done."  "Why,  yes,"  said  the  students, 
"  the  first  year  you  came  here  it  was  illuminated."  "  Not  hardly," 
said  the  Doctor,  "  for  I  remember  rightly,  we  had  no  college  to 
illuminate."  But,  said  they,  "they  hung  the  lamps  in  the  trees, 
which  meant  the  same  thing."  So  the  dialogue  went  on,  and  at 
last  terminated  by  the  Doctors  consenting  to  let  the  senior  class 
come  to  his  house  in  the  evening,  for  an  informal  levee,  specifying 
that  they  should  all  go  home  precisely  at  10  o'clock.  Many  pres- 
ents were  sent  in.  The  professors  and  their  ladies,  the  tutors  and 
other  officers  of  the  college  were  present  at  the  party.  The  Doc- 
tor was  in  fine  spirits,  entertaining  the  groups  who  thronged  about 
him  with  vivid  delineations  of  the  master  spirits  of  the  last  gen- 
eration, with  most  of  whom  he  was  intimate. 

Just  before  the  company  dispersed,  the  venerable  Doctor  re- 
ferred in  a  touching  manner  to  the  separation  that  would  soon  take 
place  between  the  teachers  and  the  class  before  him,  and  besought 
them  to  live  in  constant  reference  to  the  judgment  day,  to  prepare 
for  which  all  other  days  are  given.  And  thus  in  behalf  of  all 
present,  offered  an  effecting  and  solemn  prayer  to  the  Father  of  all 
mercies. 

The  most  notable  event  in  Dr.  Nott's  connection  with  the  col- 
lege was  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  presidency,  which  was 
celebrated  with  great  interest  by  the  Alumni,  July  25,  1854. 
Many  of  Union's  most  distinguished  sons  took  part  in  the  festival. 
An  Historical  Address  was  delivered  by  Wm.  W.  Campbell; 
then,  a  discourse  of  great  power  by  Francis  Wayland,  President 
of  Brown  University,  on  "  The  Education  demanded  by  the 
people  of  the  United  States ; "  then  followed  an  address  of  great 
tenderness  by  Dr.  Nott,  in  his  best  manner.  It  was  replete  with 
reminiscences  of  the  past. 

"  Surely,"  said  he,  "  our  lives  have  fallen  in  pleasant  places, 
we  have  a  goodly  heritage."  "But  where  are  the  actors  in  these 
scenes  of  glory? — the  men  who  achieved  these  semi-centennial 
triumphs  ? — especially  those  of  the  Empire  State  ? — where  are  the 


statesmen? — where  is  Jay,  and  Clinton  and  Hamilton — statesmen 
of  imperishable  memory  ?  " 

"  Where  are  the  jurists? — where  is  the  stern  and  incorruptible 
Spencer,  the  erudite,  guileless  Kent,  and  the  eloquent  and  per- 
suasive Van  Ness  ?  " 

"Where  are  the  inventors  and  the  patrons  of  inventors? — 
where  is  the  liberal  and  enlightened  Livingston  ? — the  ingenious 
and  successful  Fulton? — and  above  all,  where  is  the  unhonored 
and  forgotten  Fitch,  the  real  and  unrivalled  author  of  steam- 
navigation  ?  " 

"Where  are  the  men  that  presided  over  this  institution  in  its 
early  infancy  ? — where  is  the  devout  and  impassioned  Smith  ?— 
the  acute  and  polemic  Edwards  ? — and  where  the  elegant  and 
accomplished  Maxey  ?  " 

"  Where  the  teachers  that  constituted  its  faculty  ? — where  is 
the  profound  Van  Der  Huval  ? — the  beloved  Taylor  ? — the  devoted 
Yates? — the  learned  Allen,  and  the  venerated  Davis?  " 

"  Where  are  the  men  that  constituted  its  Board  of  Trustees  ? 
— where  is  Van  Eensselaer,  and  Banyar  and  Henry,  and  Outhout 
and  Yates  and  Duane  ?  and  especially  where  is  Romeyn  and  Coe 
and  Blatchford  ? — venerable  names.  Where  ?  Gone — all  gone  ; 
and  I  stand  here  alone  to-day  among  you,  beloved  pupils,  the  last 
remaining  relic  of  a  former  age,  as  the  leafless,  storm-stricken  forest 
tree  stands  amid  trees  of  younger  growth,  still  spreading  around 
their  branches,  beating  the  storm  and  rejoicing  in  their  strength." 

Venerable  old  man  !  "  The  leafless  forest  tree  "  has  fallen ; 
its  ashes  have  mingled  with  the  dust  of  other  centuries ;  but  the 
memory  of  its  departed  glory  remains,  a  joy  and  benediction 
forever. 

The  standard  of  teaching  in  the  college  was  low.  With  few 
exceptions,  the  professors  were  easy  and  inefficient.  All  the  life 
was  in  two  of  the  younger  men — Chester  Averill  and  Isaac  W. 
Jackson.  Averill  was  a  man  of  uncommon  promise.  Fie  was 
tall  and  beautiful  in  person,  clear  and  comprehensive  in  intellect, 
diligent  and  untiring  in  study,  lofty  and  aspiring  in  his  ideals  of 
perfected  manhood.  In  1836,  in  the  midst  of  his  scholarly  career, 
he  was  cut  off  and  consigned  to  an  early  grave. 


34 


Prof.  Jackson  died  in  1877.  He  was  a  man  of  rare  mental 
abilities,  of  large  mathematical  culture,  of  broad  and  comprehen- 
sive views,  of  quick  and  delicate  sensibilities,  and  of  noble  and 
generous  impulses. 

In  this  connection,  I  should  not  omit  the  name  of  Bishop 
Alonzo  Potter,  who  had  joined  the  college  faculty  during  our  last 
year  and  wished  to  reform  the  lax  discipline  of  class-instruction ; 
but  did  little  before  our  graduation.  The  task  of  moving  the 
inert  mass  was  too  herculean  for  a  man  of  even  his  acknowledged 
power  and  reputation. 

Dr.  Nott  did  not  rely  so  much  upon  book-learning  as  upon  the 
knowledge  of  human  nature.  He  cared  little  for  libraries  and 
cabinets  of  natural  history;  with  him,  book-worms  and  pedants 
were  at  a  discount.  He  would  have  every  man  rely  upon  his 
genius  and  not  consume  his  strength  with  the  wasting  midnight 
oil.  He  liked  readiness  and  not  a  'plodding  scholarship.  Herer 
there  was  no  encouragement  of  painstaking  fidelity  to  scholastic 
duties.  The  boys  were  left  to  follow  their  own  inclinations,  and 
these  in  the  average  student  are  not  of  a  very  elevated  character. 

The  Doctor  said  in  class,  one  day,  that  he  was  not  afraid  to 
meet  a  man  in  argument  who  had  read  all  the  books  of  a  large 
library,  but  he  did  fear  him  who  had  read  but  one.  He  advised 
us  to  confine  our  reading  during  senior  year  to  Shakespeare  and 
the  Bible. 

In  our  class  of  seventy -five  graduates  (there  were  then  eighty 
in  attendance),  twenty-seven  became  lawyers,  twenty-three  clergy- 
men, six  physicians,  four  teachers,  the  rest  farmers  and  business 
men.  For  intelligence,  usefulness  and  success  in  life,  it  will  chal- 
lenge comparison  with  any  class  which  has  left  the  college.  And, 
I  think  it  may  be  said  with  truth,  that  the  graduates  of  Union 
College  will  bear  favorable  comparison  with  those  of  any  of  the 
leading  institutions  in  the  country.  The  triennial  catalogue  pre- 
sents an  array  of  distinguished  names  in  every  department  of 
human  learning.  I  have  selected  a  few ;  among  lawyers,  John 
Savage,  Egbert  Bensen,  Francis  Van  Yecten,  John  C.  Spencer, 
Kobert  J.  Breckenridge,  William  H.  Seward,  William  Kent, 
Richard  M.  Blachford,  Ira  Harris,  John  A.  Lott  and  Alexander  W- 


35 


Bradford.  Among  clergymen,  are  Thomas  C.  Brownell,  Thomas 
McCauley,  Thomas  T.  De  Witt,  Alonzo  Potter,  George  W.  Doane, 
Horatio  Potter,  Leonard  Woods  and  Iehabod  S.  Spencer.  Among 
teachers  and  college  presidents,  are  found  T.  Romeyn  Beck, 
Francis  Wayland,  Taylor  Lewis,  Stephen  Alexander,  Henry  P. 
Tappan,  John  W.  Raymond,  Silas  Totten,  John  B.  Beck,  Amos 
Dean,  Lawren  P.  Hickok,  Lewis  C.  Beck,  George  W.  Eaton, 
Chester  Averill  and  I.  W.  Jackson.  Many  others  might  be  named. 

Do  you  remember  how  inexpensive  our  education  was?  The 
whole  expense  of  mine  was  $342.61,  and  I  lived  like  a  prince  ! 
The  best  of  board  for  $1  to  $1.50  per  week.  The  greatest  expense 
was  for  tuition,  $18.50  per  term ;  for  repairs  and  damage,  62J 
cents.  The  whole  annual  expense  for  tuition  was  $57. 37 J! 
Compare  this  with  the  present  scale  of  prices  for  college  tuition. 
But  money  had  a  greater  value  in  those  early  days  of  the  Repub- 
lic ;  and  of  course,  had  a  greater  purchasing  power.  The  mines 
of  California  had  not  been  discovered  ! 

Time  has  wrought  many  changes.  The  Republic  has  laid 
aside  its  swaddling  clothes  and  reached  a  vigorous  manhood. 
We  have  witnessed  its  unfolding  greatness.  We.  have  joined  the 
long  procession  in  its  triumphant  march. 

Fifty  years  have  passed !  What  changes  have  been  wrought 
in  human  society  !  No  fifty  years  in  the  world's  history  have 
witnessed  such  mighty  revolutions !  Turn  your  thoughts  upon 
our  country.  The  population  of  the  United  States  in  1835  was 
14,786,000.  In  1880,  it  was  50,155,783.  In  1832,  there  were  24 
States ;  in  1882,  there  are  38  States  and  7  territories.  In  1830, 
there  were  only  23  miles  of  railway  ;  in  1882,  there  are  more  than 
107,000  miles!  The  first  railroad  in  the  United  States  was  at 
Quincy,  Mass.,  running  from  the  quarries  to  the  Neponset  river  by 
horse  power.  The  first  railway  in  the  country  on  which  steam 
power  was  used  was  a  short  line  built  in  1827  by  the  Delaware 
and  Hudson  Coal  Company,  from  their  mines  to  Honesdale,  Pa. 
This  road  was  used  for  traffic  and  not  for  passenger  trains.  In 
1829,  Horatio  Allen,  of  the  Novelty  Works,  New  York,  brought 
from  England  the  first  locomotives,  one  of  which  was  used  on  the 


36 


Delaware  and  Hudson  railroad,  but  was  taken  off  because  it  was 
too  heavy  for  the  rails.  This  engine  was  built  by  George  Stephen- 
son, the  English  engineer,  who  was  not  the  originator  of  the 
railway,  nor  the  inventor  of  the  locomotive.  The  first  railroad,  of 
which  I  can  find  any  account,  was  the  Darlington  road,  built  in 
1818  by  Mr.  Pearce,  which  run  from  the  river  Tees  to  the  collier- 
ies, west  of  it.  After  a  hard  struggle,  an  act  of  Parliament  was 
obtained  for  it.  The  road  at  first  was  only  30  miles  long ;  it  was 
afterwards  extended  130  miles,  but  was  not  open  for  use  till 
September,  1825. 

It  is  said  that  the  first  American  locomotive  was  built  by  Peter 
Cooper,  in  1830,  called  "  Tom  Thumb,"  which  was  placed  on  the 
Baltimore  and  Ohio  railroad ;  but  was  too  small  to  be  of  any 
practical  service.  The  object  of  its  construction  was  to  demon- 
strate the  practicability  of  turning  short  curves.  But,  in  the  same 
year,  1830,  a  locomotive  was  made  at  the  West  Point  Foundry  for 
the  South  Carolina  road,  called  the  "  Phoenix ;  "  a  second,  was 
called  the  "  West  Point."  In  the  spring  of  1831,  the  third  one  built 
for  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson  railroad  from  Albany  to  Schenectady, 
was  called  the  "De  Witt  Clinton." 

While  we  were  in  college,  the  Mohawk  and  Hudson  Eailway 
was  built ;  and,  in  our  afternoon  excursions,  we  used  to  visit  the 
grounds  and  witness  the  progress  of  the  work.  This  railway  was 
begun  in  August,  1830,  and  finished  in  September,  1831.  Sur- 
veys were  first  made  by  Mr.  Fleming  in  1829,  who  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Jarvis  in  1830.  Passengers  were  taken  upon  this  road  in 
coaches  drawn  by  horses  and  by  the  locomotive  engines,  the 
"  DeWitt  Clinton,"  to  which  reference  has  just  been  made,  and  the 
"  Robert  Fulton,"  an  English  engine.  The  coaches  were  built  like 
the  common  post  coaches  of  that  day,  and  would  carry  inside  and 
out  about  twenty  passengers,  each.  We  were  among  the  very  first 
to  make  a  trip  to  Albany  and  rode  on  the  outside ;  the  cars  being 
drawn  by  horses.  These  engines  as  compared  with  the  mammoth 
locomotives  which  now  run  over  the  same  road,  were  mere  philo- 
sophical toys.  The  "De  Witt  Clinton"  was  only  about  eleven  and 
a  half  feet  in  length,  and  mounted  on  iron  wheels  of  four  feet 
eight  inches  diameter.    There  were  two  cylinders,  one  on  each 


37 


side  of  tlic  engine,  of  five  inches  and  a  half  diameter  and 
sixteen  inches  stroke.  The  power  of  the  engine  was  about  ten 
horses.  As  it  stood  on  the  rails  it  could  be  easily  moved  by  a 
single  hand.  Its  weight  was  6, 758 J  pounds.  The  "Robert  Ful- 
ton "  weighed  12,742  pounds,  of  which  8,745  pounds  rested  on  one 
pair  of  wheels.  The  former  was  as  long  as  that  of  the  "De  Witt 
Clinton,"  and  was  mounted  on  wooden  wheels,  strongly  bound  with 
iron.  Mr.  Stephenson  said  of  it :"  As  to  the  power  of  this  engine, 
it  would  take  twenty  tons  without  difficulty  ;  but  with  twelve,  it  will 
be  much  better.  The  small  inclination  of  one  foot  in  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five,  will  affect  the  motion  of  the  engine  very  little." 
These  were  days  of  small  things  !  It  was  impossible  to  draw  a 
train  of  cars  with  this  engine  up  the  slight  grade  at  Schenectady. 
A  stationary  engine  did  that  work,  which  with  the  one  at  Albany 
ate  up  the  profits  of  the  road  [ 

The  comparative  merits  of  English  and  American  locomotives 
may  be  seen  in  the  following  reference.  On  the  railroad  between 
Alexandria  and  Suez,  there  were  four  locomotives  in  1858,  two  of 
which  were  English  and  two  American,  made  at  Taunton,  Mass. 
The  American  engineer  told  the  Pasha  that  instead  of  being  weak, 
as  the  English  had  said,  he  would  haul  as  many  loaded  cars  as  would 
reach  from  one  end  of  the  road  to  the  other.  The  Pasha,  to  try  it, 
had  all  the  cars  he  had,  seventy-five  of  them,  heavily  loaded  and 
his  own  car  hitched  behind.  The  American  locomotives  hauled  the 
whole  of  them  two  hundred  miles  to  Suez  in  twelve  hours,  stopping 
for  fuel  and  water.  This  done,  the  Pasha  cried,  "  God  is  great — 
a  Yankee  is  very  near  perfection."  After  that,  the  Pasha  used  the 
Taunton  engines  altogether. 

The  first  railway  built  in  Spain  was  between  Barcelona  and 
Mataro,  and  it  was  opened  in  1848.  Now,  Spain  has  4,841 
miles  of  railway,  1,310  in  course  of  construction,  and  1,008  miles 
authorized. 

At  the  present  time,  the  United  States  has  two  or  three  thou- 
sand miles  more  railway  than  all  the  countries  of  Europe  combined 
can  show. 

The  capital  stock  of  all  the  railroads  in  the  United  States  were, 
January  1,  1881,  $2,553,734,117.    All  parts  of  the  Union  have 


38 


been  linked  together  with  iron  bands ;  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific 
Oceans,  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  great  Lakes  of  the  North, 
have  been  indissolubly  united. 

An  enormous  increase  has  been  made  to  the  territory  of  the 
United  States.  The  acquisition  of  New  Mexico,  nearly  all  of 
Arizona,  California,  Nevada,  Utah  and  part  of  Colorado  was  due 
to  the  war  with  Mexico  which  ended  in  1848.  That  portion 
of  Arizona  lying  south  of  Gila  river  was  bought  of  Mexico  in 
1853 ;  and  the  purchase  of  Alaska  from  Kussia  in  1867,  was  the 
last  addition  to  the  territory  of  the  Eepublic. 

The  mining  of  coal,  iron,  lead  and  the  precious  metals  has 
reached  since  our  graduation,  an  unprecedented  degree  in  the  scale 
of  values.  On  this  topic,  I  have  only  time  to  say,  that  it  was 
estimated  by  the  director  of  the  Mint  for  the  year  ending  June  30, 
1880,  at  $80,167,000;  of  which  $33,522,182  was  gold;  $40,005,- 
364  silver;  $5,742,390  lead.  Prior  to  the  discovery  of  California, 
the  total  product  of  gold  and  silver  was  very  small.  But  in  1848, 
the  working  of  the  California  mines  began,  and  from  1861  the 
quantity  of  precious  metals  has  been  constantly  increasing.  At 
present,  the  United  States  produces  a  larger  quantity  of  those 
metals  annually  than  any  other  country  of  the  world. 

In  this  connection,  I  will  call  attention  to  one  of  our  cereals — 
wheat.  The  wheat  crop  of  the  United  States  for  1880,  was  153,- 
252,  795  bushels,  which  was  valued  at  $190,546,365 ;  more  than 
twice  the  value  of  all  the  gold,  silver  and  lead,  for  the  same  year, 
while  the  money  value  of  the  hay-crop  of  the  United  States  is 
many  times  that  of  the  wheat-crop. 

The  following  table  will  show  the  marvellous  growth  of  some 
of  our  American  cities,  during  the  past  fifty  years  : — 


Census  of  1880.  Census  of  1830. 

New  York,    .    .    1,206,590    ....  202,589 

Philadelphia,  .    .    846,984    161,410 

Brooklyn,     .    .    .  566,689    ....  15,396 

Chicago,     .    .    .     503,304   A  prairie. 

Boston,     ....  362,538    61,392 

St  Louis,    .    .    .    350,522    6,694 


39 


Baltimore,     .    .    .  332.190    80,621 


Cincinnati,  .    .    .     255,708    24,831 

San  Francisco,   .    .  238,956    ....    Not  settled. 

New  Orleans.  .    .     216,140    48,310 

Cleveland,     .    .    .  160,142    .  In  1840r    .  671 

Pittsburgh,  .    .    .    156,381    12,668 

Buffalo,   ....  155,137    8,653 

Washington,  .    .     147,307    18,827 

Newark,  ....  136,460    10,955 

Louisville,  .    .    .     123,645    10,341 

Jersey  City,  .    .    .  120,728    1,025 

Detroit,  ....     116,342    2,222 

Milwaukee,  .    .    .  115,518    .    .    .      Settled  in  1835.. 

Providence,    .    .     104,850    16,832 

Albany,  ....    90,903    24,238 

Kochester, ....  89,363  ......  296 

Alleghany,  Pa.,    .     78,681    ....     Not  settled. 

Indianapolis,  .    .    .  75,074   Not  settled... 

Richmond,  .    .    .     63,003    16,062 

New  Haven,  .    .    .  62,782    10,180 

Lowell,  ....    59,485    6,474 

Worcester,     .    .    .  58,295    4,172" 

Troy,      ....    56,747    11,405 

Kansas  City,  .    .    .  55,813  Not  settled. 


I  must  not  dwell  longer  on  this  national  growth  and  prosperity. 
The  intellectual,  moral  and  aesthetic  progress  of  the  Republic, 
though  not  commensurate  with  her  amazing  material  development, 
has,  nevertheless,  been  creditable.  The  cause  of  education  has 
made  rapid  advances.  The  Common  School  system,  which  originated 
in  New  England,  has  been  successfully  introduced  into  the  South- 
ern and  Western  States.  More  than  7,000,000  children  attend  the 
free  schools  and  are  taught  by  more  than  200,000  teachers.  Many 
thousands  attend  private  schools  and  academies.  There  are  in  the 
country  369  colleges,  93  theological  seminaries,  88  medical  schools, 
28  law  schools,  81  normal  schools,  235  female  seminaries,  and  1251 
academies.    Of  the  colleges,  Ohio  has  34 ;  Illinois,  28 ;  Calif  orniar 


40 


12  ;  Massachusetts,  7 ;  New  Jersey,  4 ;  Maine,  3 ;  Vermont,  2 ; 
Rhode  Island  and  New  Hampshire,  each  1*  Of  the  female  semi- 
naries, Kentucky  leads,  she  has  23 ;  Tennessee,  17 ;  Virginia,  14 ; 
Massachusetts,  10  ;  Maine,  2  ;  New  York,  15  ;  Ohio,  12  ;  Vermont, 
1.  From  the  greater  comparative  number  of  institutions  in  the 
West,  a  stranger  might  conclude  that  the  enlightenment  is  greater, 
or  the  ignorance  of  the  people  is  denser,  than  in  the  East.  The 
multiplication  of  colleges  in  a  State  is  a  mistaken  policy.  One  or 
two  well-endowed  colleges  serve  the  cause  of  the  higher  education 
of  the  people  better  than  a  score  of  feeble  and  half-equipped 
institutions. 

Excuse  a  personal  reference.  It  was  in  1839,  at  Rutgers  In- 
stitute, I  began  my  labors  as  a  teacher  of  girls.  Ample  means 
were  placed  at  my  disposal  to  organize  a  system  of  female  educa- 
tion such  as  had  not  been  attempted  in  this  or  any  other  country. 
I  was  young  and  ready  for  work.  Little  had  been  done  for  the 
higher  education  of  woman.  Nothing  of  a  public  character.  It 
was  a  prevailing  opinion  that  woman  could  not  master  the  abstract 
sciences.  True,  Maria  Gaetana  Agnesia  had  published  her  "  In- 
stituzinoni  Analytiche,"  and  in  consequence  had  been  installed 
professor  of  mathematics  in  the  University  of  Bologna;  Mary 
Somerville  had  published  her  'first  work,  a  summary  of  the 
Mecanique  Celeste  of  La  Place  under  the  title  of  "  Mechanism  of 
the  Heavens;  "  Miss  Carolina  Herschel  had  aided  her  father  and 
distinguished  brother  in  their  astronomical  researches ;  but  these 
were  exceptional  cases.  In  our  most  distinguished  schools  for 
girls,  it  was  thought  sufficient  if  the  elements  of  algebra  and 
geometry  were  taught.  Little  was  done  in  chemistry,  or  physics. 
Emma  Willard,  of  Troy,  had  organized  a  popular  seminary  which 
was  the  model  school  of  the  day.  But,  it  was  confined  to  ele- 
mentary instruction  in  common  school  branches,  belles-lettres,  and 
music.  It  attempted  nothing  higher.  It  was  a  school  of  polite 
learning  for  the  drawing  room.  It  taught  the  graces  and  accom- 
plishments of  refined  society.  All  admirable  in  their  way  and 
deserving  of  imitation.  It  is  absurd  to  regard  learning  and  good 
breeding  as  incompatible.  Coarse  manners  and  ignorance  usually 
go  together.    Mrs.  Willard's  was  a  pioneer  school  and  did  a  good 


II 


work.  Id  many  quarters,  this  limited  system  of  instruction  was 
thought  sufficient ;  thai  it  was  idle  to  attempl  anything  higher. 

The  question  with  me  was,  can  anything  better  be  done?  Can 
girls  be  taught  to  grapple  with  the  difficulties  of  abstract  science? 
Can  they  study  the  higher  mathematics?  Can  they  comprehend 
a  long  sustained  argument  in  ethics  or  philosophy?  I  laid  my 
plans  which  required  time  to  mature.  I  prepared  an  extensive 
curriculum  with  the  exception  of  the  Greek  classics,  a  college 
course.  Its  introduction  was  difficult.  My  teachers  and  pupils 
were  not  prepared  for  it  My  teachers'  knowledge  was  limited  to 
the  elements  of  algebra  and  geometry.  By  degrees,  I  introduced 
the  study  of  solid  and  analytical  geometry,  plain  and  spherical 
trigonometry  and  the  higher  algebra.  The  pyramid  was  finally 
crowned  with  the  differential  and  integral  calculus.  The  course, 
in  fact,  was  similar  to  that  of  the  military  academy  at  West  Point. 
In  consequence  of  the  undisciplined  minds  of  my  pupils,  at  the 
beginning,  it  took  several  years  for  the  perfect  running  of  the 
system.  Success  was  finally  attained.  My  classes  were  examined 
by  college  professors  of  mathematics,  whose  printed  reports  are  a 
guarantee  of  all  I  claim,  viz.,  that  woman  can  and  did  excel  in  the 
higher  walks  of  learning. 

The  wisdom  of  such  an  education  for  the  majority  of  girls  may 
be  questioned.  I  have  since  modified  the  course  by  leaving  out 
the  calculus  and  adapting  it  to  the  requirements  of  what  will  be 
more  useful,  substituting  the  study  of  the  Fine  Arts — their  history 
and  philosophy — giving  thereby  a  more  symmetrical  education  to 
the  future  women  of  Society. 

For  teaching  practical  chemistry,  a  laboratory  furnished  with 
expensive  apparatus  was  built.  The  young  ladies  put  on  their 
aprons,  and  experimented  for  themselves — a  novel  sight  in  those 
days!  A  valuable  library  and  cabinets  of  natural  history  were 
collected.  But  I  need  not  enlarge.  The  point  I  wish  to  establish 
is  this,  that  Rutgers  Female  College  of  New  York  is  the  originator 
of  the  college  system  of  education  for  women  in  this  country. 

Much  has  been  written  on  the  history  of  education.  One  of 
the  most  voluminous  writers  was  Prof.  D.  Buddingh,  of  the  Royal 
Academy  of  Delft.     But,  as  his  works  in  many  volumes  were 


42 


written  in  Low  Dutch,  they  are  little  known.  The  time,  I  think, 
has  not  yet  come  to  write  the  philosophy  of  education.  The  views 
of  educators  are  so  diverse,  their  systems  of  instruction  so  varied, 
it  will  be  necessary  to  wait  before  the  true  philosophy  can  be 
written.  Herbert  Spencer  published  an  interesting  treatise  on  the 
subject.  He  begins  with  the  enquiry,  "  What  knowledge  is  most 
worth  ?  "  Under  this  head,  are  the  following  topics  :  "The  orna- 
namental  precedes  the  useful. "  "  The  need  for  a  standard  of  value." 
"The  purpose  of  education."  "Classification  of  our  activities." 
"  The  order  of  subordination  of  subjects."  "  The  rank  of  aesthetic 
culture."  "The  fine  arts  based  on  science."  "Science  itself 
poetic."  "Studies  best  adapted  to  discipline."  "Eeligious  in- 
fluence of  science." 

We  have  not  space  for  even  a  summary  of  what  he  says  on  each 
of  these  topics.  His  conclusion  is,  that  science  is  of  most  value — for 
the  maintenance  of  life  and  health — for  that  indirect  self  prepara- 
tion which  we  call  gaining  a  livelihood —  for  the  due  regard  of 
parental  functions — for  that  interpretation  of  national  life,  past  and 
present,  without  which  the  citizen  cannot  rightly  regulate  his  con- 
duct— for  the  most  perfect  production  and  present  enjoyment  of  art 
in  all  its  forms,  and  for  purposes  of  discipline — intellectual,  moral 
and  religious  science  is  the  sine  qua  non. 

He  concludes  by  saying :  "  Science  is  the  household  drudge, 
who,  in  obscurity  hides  unrecognized  perfections.  To  her  has  been 
committed  all  the  work ;  by  her  skill,  intelligence  and  devotion, 
have  all  conveniences  and  gratifications  been  obtained  ;  and  while 
ceaselessly  ministering  to  the  rest,  she  has  been  kept  in  the  back- 
ground, that  her  haughty  sisters  might  flourish  their  fripperies  in 
the  eyes  of  the  world.  The  parallel  holds  yet  further.  For  we 
are  fast  coming  to  the  denouement,  when  the  positions  will  be 
changed;  and  while  those  haught}^  sisters  sink  into  merited  neg- 
lect, science,  proclaimed  as  highest  alike  in  worth  and  beauty,  will 
reign  supreme." 

The  public  press  has  become  a  powerful  engine  in  society — a 
power  in  forwarding  civilization  and  elevating  man,  which  is  in- 
creasing every  year.  The  number  of  periodicals  issued  in  the 
United  States,  is  about  6,000.    There  are  548  papers  which  print 


43 


more  than  5,000  copies  each  issue,  and  eleven  which  print  more 
than  100,000  copies.  The  whole  number  of  copies  of  newspapers 
printed  annually  exceed  one  billion.  The  number  of  hooks  pub- 
lished in  the  United  States  averages  3,000  a  year.  Among  the 
great  editors  and  pioneers,  were  William  L.  Stone,  James  Watson 
Webb,  William  Cullen  Bryant,  Horace  Greeley,  Henry  J.  Ray- 
mond, James  Gordon  Bennett,  Thurlow  Weed,  and  many  others. 
There  are  a  large  number  of  public  and  private  libraries,  some  of 
which  contain  from  50,000  to  100,000  volumes,  each.  Many  of 
them  are  rich  in  manuscripts  and  printed  books,  embracing  the 
entire  range  of  universal  learning.  The  fine  arts  have  received 
praiseworthy  attention.  Although  our  architecture  has  not 
reached  the  high  standard  of  the  European  rennaissance,  yet 
there  has  been  a  progressive  improvement  in  fitness,  convenience 
and  comeliness.  The  art  of  music  has  made  the  greatest  advance. 
In  no  country  in  Europe  is  there  a  greater  interest  taken  in  orches- 
tral, operatic  and  sacred  music  than  in  this  country.  It  has 
become  an  essential  accomplishment  in  a  refined  education.  The 
pictorial  and  plastic  arts  are  largely  cultivated.  Large  sums  of 
money  are  expended  by  our  citizens  of  wealth  in  forming  art 
galleries  of  paintings  and  statuary.  Large  and  numerous  col- 
lections of  engravings  and  etchings  are  found  iu  private  dwellings, 
as  well  as  cabinets  of  costly  ceramics  of  all  countries.  Cooking 
has,  to  some  extent,  become  a  fine  art.  A  more  refined  civilization 
in  the  matters  of  food  and  clothing  is  seen  in  our  households. 
The  only  danger  is,  that  it  may  run  into  extravagance  and  dissipa- 
tion. But,  if  kept  within  proper  limits,  it  will  add  much  to  the 
longevity  and  happiness  of  our  people.  The  stomach  and  brain 
are  sympathetic.  The  former  supplies  the  material  for  the  gener- 
ating forces  of  the  latter.  They  are  automatic. 

Allusion  can  only  be  made  to  the  following  great  historical 
facts  of  the  half  century : 

Daguerre's  Discovery  in  1839.  Talbots  paper  photography, 
same  year.  Unveiling  of  the  interior  of  Africa  by  Livingstone 
(1840),  Speke,  Stanley  and  others.  War  of  the  United  States 
with  Mexico  (1846).     Mormanism  established  in  Utah,  1847. 


44 


Discovery  of  gold  in  California  in  1848,  and  the  consequent 
settlement  of  States  on  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  settlement  of 
Australia  by  English  speaking  people  in  1850.  Discovery  of 
the  Northwest  Passage  lyy  McClure,  1851.  Opening  of  Japan, 
1853.  Crimean  War  in  1854,  and  death  of  Nicholas,  March 
2,  1855  —  Serf-Emancipation  of  23,000,000,  by  Alexander  II. 
and  the  Russian  Liberals,  in  1861.  The  great  American  Civil 
War,  1861.  Lincoln's  Emancipation  Proclamation,  1863.  The 
Franco-Prussian  War,  1870 — The  Unification  of  Italy,  and  the 
end  of  the  Pope's  Temporal  Power,  1870.  Russo-Turkish  War, 
1877.  The  Circumnavigation  of  Europe  and  Asia  by  Nordenskiold 
in  the  Vega,  1879 — Discovery  of  Oxygen  in  the  Sun,  by  Henry 
Draper,  1877.  On  the  23d  of  April,  1838,  the  steamship  "  Sirius  " 
arrived  at  New  York,  the  first  ocean  steamer  from  England.  A 
few  hours  later  of  the  same  day,  arrived  the  "  Great  Western,'7 
which  had  left  Liverpool  four  days  after  the  "Sirius." 

The  excitement  caused  by  the  arrival  of  these  steamers  was 
very  great.  Multitudes  went  to  see  them.  Two  or  three  years 
later,  I  saw  Daniel  Webster  and  his  daughter  leave  for  Europe  on 
board  the  "  Great  Western."  A  great  advance  had  been  made  in 
steam  navigation.  Fulton's  first  boat  began  running  between  New 
York  and  Albany,  1807.  Three  years  after,  a  writer  living  in  a 
country  house  on  the  Hudson,  wrote : 

*  *  *  "  One  of  the  curiosities  that  we  daily  see  pass  under  our 
windows  is  the  steamboat,  a  passage  vessel  with  accommodation 
for  near  a  hundred  persons.  It  is  moved  by  a  steam-engine  turn- 
ing a  wheel  on  either  side  of  it  which  acts  like  the  main  wheel  of 
a  mill  and  propels  the  vessel  against  wind  and  tide  at  the  rate  of 
four  miles  an  hour.  As  soon  as  it  conies  in  sight  there  is  a  general 
rush  of  the  household  to  watch  and  wonder  until  it  disappears. 
They  don't  all  know  what  to  make  of  the  unnatural  monster  that 
goes  steadily  careering  on  with  the  wind  directly  in  its  teeth  as  often 
as  not.  I  doubt  that  I  should  be  obeyed  were  I  to  desire  any  one  of 
them  to  take  a  passage  in  her.  When  first  this  vessel  appeared  in 
these  waters  it  excited  great  consternation.  Some  of  the  simple 
country  folks  were  pretty  well  frightened  out  of  their  wits,  sus- 
pecting, I  am  told,  it  was  some  diabolical  conveyance  that  had 


brought  his  Satanic  Majesty  from  the  lower  realms  to  visit  the 
United  States.  I  am  inclined  to  look  with  favor  on  this  applica- 
tion of  the  propelling  power  of  steam.  Not  improbably  it  is 
destined  at  no  distant  day  to  produce  incalculably  great  and  bene- 
ficial changes  in  our  mode  of  voyaging." — Notes  and  Queries. 

I  cannot  pass  in  silence  the  marvellous  scientific  discoveries 
which  have  been  made  since  we  left  college,  nor  can  I  do  them 
justice  in  the  limited  time  at  my  disposal. 

The  purely  scientific  knowledge  we  possess  was  discoverd 
almost  entirely  by  means  of  original  research.  It  is  either  by 
observing  matter  and  its  forces  under  new  conditions  or  from  a 
new  aspect,  that  nearly  all  discoveries  are  made.  Some  discoveries 
are  made  by  observing  the  phenomena  of  bodies  placed  under 
special  conditions  by  those  operations  of  nature  over  which  we 
have  little  or  no  control.  All  our  knowledge  of  astronomy  and 
much  of  that  of  geology  and  physiology,  was  acquired  in  this 
way.  Nearly  all  modern  discoveries  of  importance  in  physics  or 
chemistry,  require  long  and  difficult  investigations  to  be  made,  in 
order  to  completely  establish  their  truth.  Scientific  discovery  is 
the  most  valuable  in  its  ultimate  practical  results  when  it  is 
pursued  from  a  love  of  truth  as  the  ruling  motive,  and  any 
attempt  to  make  it  more  directly  and  quickly  remunerative  by 
trying  to  direct  it  immediately  to  practical  objects,  decreases  the 
importance  of  its  results,  diminishes  the  spirit  of  enquiry,  and 
sooner  or  later  reduces  it  to  the  character  of  invention.  The 
greatest  practical  realities  of  this  age  had  their  origin  in  a  search 
after  important  truths,  entirely  irrespective  of  what  utilities  they 
might  lead  to. 

Many  persons  scarcely  know  the  difference  between  science 
and  art ;  a  still  greater  number  cannot  readily  distinguish  between 
a  concrete  science  and  a  pure  one ;  and  nearly  all  persons  confound 
discovery  with  invention.  A  science  may  be  conveniently  defined 
as  a  collection  of  facts  and  general  principles  which  are  to  be 
learned ;  an  art  as  a  collection  of  rules  which  are  to  be  followed. 
Art  therefore  is  applied  science ;  and  every  art  also  has  a  basis  in 
science,  whether  that  basis  has  been  discovered  or  not.  Scientific 


46 


principles  underlie  not  only  manufacturing  processes,  but  also 
sculpture,  music,  poetry  and  painting. 

When  Oersted  first  observed  a  magnetic  needle  in  proximity  to 
a  body  through  which  a  current  of  electricity  was  passing,  had  a 
tendency  to  place  itself  at  right  angles  to  such  body,  or  more 
strictly  speaking  to  rotate  round  that  body ;  and  when  Henry  and 
Sturgeon  discovered  that  if  currents  of  electricity  pass  around  a 
bar  of  soft  iron,  the  iron  becomes  temporarily  magnetic ;  and  when 
in  that  magnetic  condition  it  powerfully  attracts  to  it  any  pieces  of 
soft  iron  which  may  be  near  it ;  and  when  by  the  discoveries  of 
Carlisle,  Nicholson  and  Davy,  that  when  a  current  of  electricity 
passes  through  certain  chemical  substances,  those  substances  are 
thereby  decomposed,  or  new  compounds  are  found,  each  made  a 
scientific  discovery.  But  when  Morse  applied  those  discoveries  in 
the  construction  of  his  telegraph,  which  he  first  set  up  between 
Baltimore  and  Washington,  he  made  an  invention.  In  discovery, 
we  search  for  new  phenomena,  their  causes  and  relations ;  in  in- 
vention, we  seek  to  produce  new  effects,  or  to  produce  known 
effects  in  an  improved  manner. 

"There  is  nothing  on  earth  so  small  that  it  may  not  produce' 
great  things."  The  most  abstract  and  apparently  trival  experi- 
ments in  original  research  have  in  some  cases  led  to  inventions  and 
results  of  national  and  even  world-wide  importance.  The  con- 
tractions of  a  frog's  leg  in  the  experiments  of  Gralvani,  and  the 
movements  of  a  magnetic  needle  in  those  of  Oersted,  have  already 
led  to  the  expenditure  of  hundreds  of  millions  of  dollars  in  laying 
telegraph  wires  all  over  the  earth,  and  to  an  immense  extension  of 
international  intercourse.  But  the  original  experiment  of  Oersted 
was  not  discovered  without  labor;  it  was  only  arrived  at  after 
many  years  of  research. 

The  laws  of  the  mechanical  action  of  conductors  conveying 
currents  upon  magnets  and  upon  each  other  were  investigated  by 
Ampere  in  a  series  of  experiments,  which  were  at  once  conclusive 
and  exhaustive. 

Michael  Faraday  discovered  magnetic  electricity  in  1831. 
His  valuable  contributions  to  physical  science,  in  his  researches 


47 


into  the  phenomena  of  electricity  and  magnetism,  will  always  be 
acknowledged. 

Previously  to  the  experiments  of  Faraday,  the  induction  of 
electric  currents  was  unknown.  Faraday,  in  the  first  series  of  his 
experimental  researches,  describes  an  experiment  in  which  a  copper 
disc  was  made  to  rotate  between  the  poles  of  an  electro-magnet, 
while  one  electrode  of  a  galvanometer  was  connected  with  the  axis 
of  the  disc  and  the  other  with  a  wire  which  was  held  in  contact 
with  the  edge  of  the  disc,  which  edge  was  amalgamated  to  secure 
a  good  connection  On  spinning  the  disc,  a  current  was  imme- 
diately obtained,  the  direction  of  which  was  reversed  with  that  of 
the  rotation.  This  experiment  may  be  regarded  as  the  starting- 
point  of  the  dynamo  machines  of  Wilde,  Gramme,  Siemens  and 
others,  which  seem  destined  to  play  so  important  a  part  in  the 
civilized  life  of  the  future. 

Faraday  also  showed  that  where  two  circuits  are  placed  near  to 
one  another,  if  a  current  be  started  in  one  circuit,  there  is  an 
instantaneous  current  produced  in  the  opposite  direction  in  the 
neighboring  circuit:  while,  on  stopping  the  primary  current,  a 
transient  current  in  the  same  direction  as  the  primary  occurs  in  the 
other  or  secondary  circuit.  This  experiment  was  the  origin  of  the 
now  well-known  induction  coil.  Again,  when  the  current  was 
flowing  steadily  in  the  primary  circuit,  if  the  secondary  circuit 
were  brought  near  to  it,  a  current  was  induced  in  the  secondary  in 
the  direction  opposite  to  that  in  the  primary,  and  continued  during 
the  approach  of  circuits.  On  removing  the  secondary  circuit,  a 
transient  current  was  set  up  in  the  same  direction  as  that  in  the 
primary. 

The  telephone  is  a  beautiful  example  of  the  application  of  this 
law  of  induced  currents.  Every  movement  of  the  magnetic  disc  in 
front  of  the  pole  of  the  magnet  alters  the  number  of  magnetic  lines 
of  force  passing  through  the  coils  of  wire  surrounding  the  pole,  and 
hence  induces  a  current  in  one  direction  or  the  other  in  the  coil, 
which  current,  increasing  or  diminishing  the  strength  of  the 
magnetism  in  the  receiving  telephone,  causes  a  corresponding 
motion  in  the  iron  disc  of  the  receiver,  which,  therefore,  emits 
sounds  similar  to  those  incident  upon  the  receiving  instrument. 


48 


The  determination  of  the  laws  of  self-induction  in  electric 
currents  is  another  of  F&r^day's  man)'  contributions  to  electrical 
science.  If  the  poles  of  an  electro-magnet  be  joined  by  a  wire  of 
great  resistance,  as  well  as  by  the  battery,  when  the  battery  is 
removed,  a  considerable  current  will  flow  through  the  wire.  This 
current  Faraday  called  the  ex^ra-current.  It  is  more  generally 
referred  to  as  the  self-induction  current. 

There  is  a  well-known  experiment  of  Faraday,  in  which  a 
specimen  of  his  heavy  glass,  or  borate  of  lead,  was  placed  between 
the  poles  of  a  powerful  electro-magnet,  and  a  beam  of  plane 
polarized  light  was  passed  through  the  glass  in  the  direction  of  the 
magnetic  force.  Faraday  found  that,  when  the  light  passed  from 
the  north  to  the  south  pole  of  the  magnet,  the  plane  of  polarization 
was  turned  through  an  angle  in  the  same  direction  as  a  right- 
handed  screw  would  rotate  if  piercing  a  solid  and  advancing  with 
the  light,  When  the  light  passed  in  the  opposite  direction,  the 
rotation  of  the  plane  of  polarization  was  in  the  same  direction  with 
respect  to  the  magnet,  and  therefore  reversed  with  respect  to  the 
path  of  the  light.  In  this  respect,  the  heavy  glass  under  the 
influence  of  the  magnet  behaved  differently  from  a  solution 
of  sugar,  which  always  turns  the  plane  of  polarization  of  the  light 
in  the  same  direction  with  reference  to  its  direction  of  transmission. 
This  was  the  first  experiment  which  showed  any  relation  between 
light  and  magnetism,  and  indicated  that  the  medium  which  serves 
as  the  vehicle  of  light — the  luminous  ether — must  at  least  be 
affected  by  the  presence  of  magnetic  force,  though  the  fact  that  the 
presence  of  ponderable  matter  is  necessary  to  the  production  of  this 
rotation,  and  that  the  direction  of  the  rotation  depends  on  the 
nature  of  the  matter,  renders  it  doubtful  how  far  magnetic  force 
affects  the  ether  directly. 

All  transparent  solids  and  liquids  exhibit  the  same  action  on 
light  in  different  degrees.  If  a  tube  of  water,  with  plate  glass 
rods  be  placed  within  a  coil  of  wire  through  which  an  electric 
current  is  passing,  and  plane  polarized  light  be  transmitted  through 
the  tube,  the  plane  of  polarization  will  be  turned  through  an  angle 
in  the  direction  in  which  the  current  circulates,  and  this  angle  can 
be  proportional  to  the  current 


i 


49 


Id  1846,  Faraday  received  the  Royal  and  Kumford  medals  for 
his  discourses  on  dia-magnetism  and  on  the  influence  of  magnetism 
upon  light,  respectively.  In  1847,  he  declared  the  magnetic 
character  of  oxygen  and  the  magnetic  relations  of  flame  and  gases. 

In  this  same  line  of  investigation  we  find  our  own  countryman, 
Joseph  Henry.  In  1827,  he  began  his  investigations  in  electricity. 
In  1838,  his  "Contributions  to  Electricity  and  Magnetism"  were 
published.  His  scientific  papers  were  published  in  The  American 
Philosophical  Transactions,  iSillimans  Journal,  and  the  Journal  of 
the  Franklin  Institute. 

He  made  several  thousand  original  investigations  in  electricity, 
magnetism  and  electro-magnetism,  which  were  never  published. 
He  is  the  undisputed  inventor  of  the  electric  telegraph.  In  1825, 
Mr.  Barlow  of  the  Koyal  Military  Academy  declared  that  the 
telegraph  was  impossible.  In  1830,  Prof.  Henrv  had  a  telegraph 
in  working  order  of  a  mile  and  a  half  in  length.  It  is  to  be  under- 
stood, however,  that  the  telegraph  is  the  result  of  many  scientific 
laborers  from  Oersted  through  a  long  series  of  years ;  and  that 
Henry  supplied  the  missing  link  in  the  perfected  chain  by  first 
rendering  it  applicable  to  the  transmission  of  mechanical  power, 
and  by  first  actually  magnetizing  a  piece  of  iron  at  a  distance, 
and  by  it  to  deliver  telegraphic  signals.  He  also  showed  what 
kind  of  battery  must  be  employed  to  project  the  current  through 
a  great  length  of  wire,  and  what  kind  of  coil  should  surround  the 
magnet  used  to  receive  the  current  and  do  the  work. 

The  following  are  the  main  points  in  the  order  of  discovery 
which  led  to  the  electro-magnetic  telegraph.  They  are  condensed 
from  Prof.  Henry's  statement  before  Congress. 

1819-1820.  Oersted  showed  that  a  magnetic  needle  is  deflected 
by  the  action  of  a  current  of  electricity  passing  near  it. 

1820.  Arago  discovered  that  while  a  galvanic  current  is 
passing  through  a  copper  wire,  it  is  capable  of  developing 
magnetism  in  soft  iron. 

1820.  Ampere  discovered  that  two  wires  through  which 
currents  are  passing  in  the  same  direction  attract,  and  in  opposite 
directions  repel,  each  other;  and  thence  he  inferred  that  magnetism 
consists  in.  the  attraction  of  electrical  currents  revolving  at  right 


50 


angles  to  the  line  joining  the  poles  of  the  magnet,  and  is  produced 
in  a  bar  of  steel  or  iron  by  induction  from  a  series  of  electrical 
currents  revolving  in  the  same  direction  at  right  angles  to  the  axis 
of  the  bar. 

1820. — Schweigger  produced  the  galvanometer. 

1825. — Sturgeon  made  the  electro-magnet  by  bending  the  bar, 
or  rather  piece  of  iron  wire,  into  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe,  covering 
it  with  varnish  to  insulate  it  with  a  helix  of  wire,  the  turns  of 
which  were  at  a  distance. 

1829-1830. — Henry,  in  accordance  with  the  theory  of  Ampere, 
produced  the  intensity  or  spool-wound  magnet,  insulating  the  wire 
instead  of  the  rod  or  bar,  and  covering  the  whole  surface  of  the 
iron  with  a  series  of  coils  in  close  contact.  He  extended  the 
principles  to  the  full  by  winding  successive  strata  of  insulated  wire 
over  each  other,  thus  producing  a  compound  helix  formed  of  a 
long  wire  of  many  coils.  At  the  same  time  he  developed  the 
relation  of  the  intensity  magnet  to  the  intensity  battery,  and  their 
relations  to  the  magnet  of  quantity.  He  thus  made  the  electro- 
magnet capable  of  transmitting  power  to  a  long  distance,  demon- 
strated the  principle  and  perfected  the  magnet  applicable  to  the 
purpose,  was  the  first  actually  to  magnetize  a  piece  of  iron  at  a 
distance,  and  to  demonstrate  and  declare  the  applicability  of  the 
electro-magnet  to  telegraphy  at  a  distance.  Using  the  terminus 
short  circuit  magnet  of  quantity  and  the  armature  as  a  signaling 
device,  he  was  the  first  to  make  by  it  acoustic  signals,  sounding 
a  bell  at  a  distance  by  means  of  the  electro-magnet. 

1833. — Weber  discovered  that  the  conducting  wires  of  an 
electric  telegraph  could  be  left  without  insulation  except  at  the 
points  of  support. 

1833. — Grauss  ingeniously  arranged  the  application  of  a  dual 
sign  in  such  a  manner  as  to  produce  a  true  alphabet  for  telegraphy. 

1836.  — Daniell  invented  or  brought  into  use  a  constant  gal- 
vanic battery. 

1837.  — Steinheil  discovered  that  the  earth  may  form  the 
returning  half  of  the  circuit,  and  that  a  single  conducting  wire 
suffices  for  telegraphy. 

1837. — Morse  adopted,  through  the  agency  of  Dr.  Leonard 


51 


Gale,  the  principle  of  the  Henry  electro-magnet,  and  made1  of  the 
armature  a  recording  instrument. 

1838. — Morse  devised  his  "dot  and  dash"  alphabet,  a  great 
improvement  upon  the  Gauss  and  Steinheil  alphabets. 

1844. — Morse  suggested  and  brought  into  use  the  system  of 
relay-magnets  and  relay-circuits,  to  reinforce  the  current. 

The  last  is  the  most  valuable  contribution  made  by  Prof. 
Morse.  This  system  of  reinforcing  the  electric  current  improved 
by  Thompson  and  others,  is  necessary  for  the  transmissing  of 
messages  over  great  distances  by  land  or  sea.  We  are  ready  to 
accord  all  due  honor  to  Morse  for  his  courage  and  success  in 
introducing  the  best  system  of  telegraphy,  surpassing  in  value  all 
the  European  systems.  Still  we  must  remember  that  he  who  first 
exalted  the  quantity  magnet  of  Sturgeon,  from  a  power  of  twenty 
pounds  to  a  power  of  two  thousand  pounds,  was  the  absolute 
creator  of  the  intensity  magnet ;  and  that  the  principles  involved  in 
this  creation,  constitute  the  indispensable  basis  of  every  form  of 
the  electro-magnetic  telegraph  in  existence.  This  great  honor 
belongs  to  Henry.  Besides  this,  he  was  the  inventor  of  the 
chronograph,  of  the  electro -magnetic  engine,  and  was  an  independ- 
ent discoverer  of  magnetic-electricity. 

It  is  true  of  both  Faraday  and  Henry,  that  they  cared  little  for 
the  application  of  their  scientific  discoveries  to  the  useful  arts. 
Their  chief  aim  was  to  interpret  the  laws  of  nature  without 
regard  to  any  higher  reward  than  what  comes  from  the  satisfaction 
of  enlarging  the  boundaries  of  human  knowledge.  Both  pos- 
sessed little  of  this  world's  goods,  and  died  poor. 

During  nearly  of  the  whole  of  Henry's  scientific  career,  I  had 
the  honor  of  a  personal  acquaintance  with  him.  While  at  Prince- 
ton, he  often  wrote  me  on  scientific  subjects.  In  1842,  he  made 
in  my  laboratory  in  New  York,  a  series  of  experiments  on  atmos- 
pheric electricity.  Some  of  the  apparatus  he  there  contrived,  is 
still  in  my  possession. 

Among  the  greatest  of  American  electricians  must  be  placed 
in  imperishable  letters,  the  names  of  Franklin  aud  Henry. 

I  wish  to  put  this  minute  on  record,  to  show  the  noble 
character  of  Prof.  Henry.    When  Morse  applied  to  Congress,  in 


52 


1837,  for  an  appropriation  to  enable  him  to  make  a  trial  of 
his  telegraph,  he  became  the  butt  of  ridicule,  and  was  fairly  driven 
out  of  Washington.  He  went  to  Europe,  and,  returning  in  1339, 
renewed  his  importunities.  The  shafts  of  ridicule  flew  thicker  and 
faster.  In  the  estimation  of  Congress,  he  was  the  greatest  joker  of 
the  century.  Dr.  John  Torrey,  returning  from  Washington,  said, 
"  It  is  of  no  use  ;  Morse  is  the  laughing  stock  of  Washington  ;  he 
will  have  to  go  back  to  portrait  painting." 

At  this  time,  John  C.  Spencer  was  Secretary  of  War.  And, 
wishing  to  know  whether  there  was  anything  in  Morse's  invention, 
visited  Princeton  to  see  Henry.  Henry  assured  him  that  the 
telegraph  was  practicable,  as  he  could  show  himself  by  an  examina- 
tion of  the  short  line  he  had  set  up  in  the  college  campus.  Spencer 
was  satisfied,  and,  returning,  communicated  his  opinion  to  the 
leading  men  in  Congress ;  and,  as  a  result,  the  bill  appropriating 
$30,000  was  passed,  securing  the  honor  of  Morse's  world-renowned 
telegraph  to  the  United  States,  through  the  services  of  Spencer  and 
Henry. 

In  1851,  the  submarine  telegraph  cable  was  laid  between 
Dover  and  Calais;  in  1866,  the  Atlantic  cable  between  Europe 
and  America.  The  transmission  of  messages  over  such  great 
distances  required  more  delicate  apparatus  than  had  been  used  in 
communicating  between  stations  on  land.  Sir  William  Thompson 
was  successful  in  improving  the  apparatus.  Until  eight  or  nine 
years  ago,  the  Morse  system,  with  its  printing  attachment,  was  the 
only  thing  known.  The  first  important  improvement  was  the 
Wheatstone  automatic  instrument,  by  which  greater  speed  was 
obtained  by  the  use  of  chemicals.  The  capacity  of  a  single  wire 
was  also  doubled  by  the  ingenuity  of  Stearns,  of  Boston.  An  in- 
teresting and  valuable  invention,  chiefly  due  to  the  researches  of 
Edison,  is  widely  used,  by  which  two  messages  can  be  sent  in  the 
same  direction  and  at  the  same  time,  over  one  wire.  It  is  also 
true,  that  two  messages  can  be  sent  simultaneously  on  the  same 
wire  in  opposite  directions,  while  by  the  employment  of  the  du- 
plex system,  the  capacity  is  again  doubled,  thus  furnishing  the 
quadruple  system  now  in  general  use  on  all  the  main  lines  of 


telegraph  in  this  country.  To  invent  a  cheap  system  of  telegraphy 
has  led  to  the  introduction  and  trial  of  a  great  number  of  other 
systems  with  which  the  names  of  Hayes,  Edison,  Casselli  and 
Mayer  are  associated.  Later  came  the  so-called  harmonic  tele- 
graphs of  Eeis,  Varley,  La  Cour,  and  Gray.  When  Whcatstone, 
Siemens,  Halskie  and  Edison  sought  to  do  away  with  the  Morse 
operation,  real  progress  was  made.  The  system  of  telegraphy  as 
now  carried  on  by  the  American  Rapid  Telegraph  Company  is  the 
nearest  approach  to  high  speed  and  cheapness  yet  devised.  By 
means  of  perforated  paper  which  works  automatically,  the  trans- 
mitting operation  is  gotten  rid  of,  and  at  the  other  end,  a  ribbon 
moistened  with  chemicals  does  the  work  of  the  receiving  opera- 
tor. We  are,  I  think,  on  the  eve  of  a  great  revolution  in  tele- 
graphy by  the  ingenious  contrivances  of  Mr.  Parcelle,  of  Boston. 
His  system  is  called  "  Harmonic,  Automatic  Telegraphy,"  and 
differs  from  that  in  use  by  the  Rapid  Telegraph  Company  in  two 
important  points.  The  first  is  an  improved  and  abbreviated  con- 
struction of  the  alphabet.  The  second  is  the  employment  of  a 
system  of  sympathetic  resonance,  by  which,  with  the  use  of  a 
single  wire  and  unskilled  operators,  the  same  amount  of  work 
which  is  now  done  by  ten  wires  and  skilled  labor  can  be  accom- 
plished. Thus,  for  the  first  time  in  the  history  of  telegraphy,  the 
Morse  alphabet  and  system  are  done  away  with,  as  are  also  the 
translating  and  transcribing  by  receivers.  Instead  of  requiring  the 
ordinary  handling  and  delay,  the  message,  be  it  long  or  short,  is 
rapidly  prepared  in  a  perforating  machine  fed  into  the  transmitter, 
and  is  instantly  reproduced  in  clear  Roman  letters  on  sheets  of 
paper  ready  to  be  sent  by  a  messenger  to  the  party  addressed.  The 
actual  number  of  words  sent,  on  an  average,  by  the  American 
Rapid  is  from  600  to  700  per  minute,  while  the  lowest  computa- 
tions made  from  results  obtained  from  an  instrument  only  partially 
completed,  shows  a  speed  by  the  new  method  of  5,000  words  per 
minute.  A  great  advantage,  too,  is  that,  being  sent  over  a  single 
wire,  the  matter  comes  consecutively,  and  is,  therefore,  free  from 
liability  to  error,  as  is  often  the  case,  where  several  wires  are  used 
for  the  sending  of  a  single  dispatch. 

A  new  application  of  photography  in  connection  with  the 


54 


science  of  telegraphy  has  been  made  by  Mr.  Parcelle,  in  which  he 
has  succeeded  in  producing  a  combination  whereby,  on  land 
lines,  messages  can  be  transmitted  by  electricity  and  recorded  by 
photographic  action.  This  can  be  done  successfully  at  the  rate  of 
about  1,400  words  per  minute;  the  words  being  distinctly  tran- 
scribed in  plain  Koman  in  folio  form.  A  feature  of  this  device  is 
that  it  requires  so  little  current,  that  it  is  as  easily  operated  at  a 
distance  of  5,000  miles  as  5  feet  without  relays.  It  is  entirely 
automatic,  and  requires  no  supervision.  The  Atlantic  cable  is 
now  operated  by  Thompson's  galvanometer,  by  which  only  13 
words  per  minute  can  be  sent,  and  requires  not  less  than  two 
operators  at  the  receiving  end,  and  even  then  there  is  great  lia- 
bility to  mistake.  The  cable  rates  are  now  fifty  cents  per  word. 
The  new  system  will  easily  transmit  and  record,  automatically, 
300  words  per  minute,  and  the  result  can  hardly  fail  of  being  an 
important  reduction  in  the  present  tariff. 

According  to  the  estimates  of  a  French  statistician,  the  total 
length  of  all  the  telegraph  wires  at  present  laid  is  sufficient  to 
reach  forty-six  times  around  the  earth.  The  estimated  total  length 
of  all  the  submarine  telegraph  cables  in  the  world  is  62,100  miles? 
and  their  money  value  is  $200,000,000. 

The  Telephone  and  Microphone  are  recent  inventions,  by  which 
the  human  voice  is  transmitted  through  an  electric  conductor 
from  one  station  to  another,  so  that  a  conversation  can  be  carried 
on  at  great  distances  apart.  This  is  one  of  the  recent  marvels. 
Edison,  Bell,  Hughes,  Dolbear  and  others,  are  the  inventors. 

The  Electric  Light  is  another  gift  to  society.  Although  it  has 
not  been  so  perfected  as  to  be  introduced  into  our  dwellings  as 
economical!}'  as  gas,  it  is  believed  that  through  the  labors  of 
Siemens,  Gramme,  Edison,  Weston  and  others,  success  will  be 
finally  won. 

Photography,  with  its  development  and  applications,  is  a  sub- 
ject of  marvellous  interest. 

The  first  attempts  at  fixing  images  by  light  were  published  in 


55 


the  Journal  of  the  Royal  Institution  of  Great  Britain,  in  June, 
1802.    They  were  made  by  Wedge  wood  and  Davy. 

In  1814,  M.  Miepce  and  M.  Daguerre  took  up  the  subject.  In 
1829,  they  entered  into  partnership.  The  discovery  of  the 
Daguerreotype  was  reported  to  the  world  in  January,  1839.  It 
was  at  a  memorable  public  seance  in  the  Palais  Mazarin,  on  the 
19th  of  August,  1839,  that  Daguerre,  in  the  presence  of  all  the 
great  authorities  in  art,  science  and  diplomacy,  who  were  then  in 
Paris,  illustrated  his  process  by  experiment.  An  Act  had  been 
passed  by  the  French  Government,  which  gave  to  Daguerre  an 
annuity  of  6,000  francs,  and  to  M.  Isodore  Niepce,  the  son  of 
Daguerre's  partner,  an  annuity  of  4,000  francs,  with  one-half  in 
reversion  for  their  widows. 

Arago  declared  that  "  France  had  adopted  this  discovery,  and 
was  proud  to  hand  it  as  a  present  to  the  whole  world." 

In  January,  1839,  six  months  previous  to  the  publication  of 
Daguerre's  process,  Mr.  Fox  Talbot,  of  London,  made  known  to 
the  Royal  Society  his  discovery,  and  the  next  month  published  his 
process  of  fixing  the  camera  image  on  paper,  which  was  called  the 
"  Talbot-type."  Talbot  secured  a  patent,  for  which  he  was  severely 
criticised.  From  his  process  is  derived  the  beautiful  Paper 
Photography,  as  now  practiced,  and  the  still  more  beautiful  process 
for  positives  on  glass.  The  Daguerre  process  has  been  superseded  by 
that  of  Talbot.  Daguerreotypes  are  no  longer  found  in  the  market. 

Daguerre  taught  a  large  number  of  persons  from  all  parts  of  the 
world  the  process.  Sachse  of  Berlin,  a  dealer  in  art,  was  initiated 
into  Daguerre's  discovery  on  the  22d  of  April,  1839,  and  was 
appointed  Daguerre's  agent  in  Germany.  On  the  22d  of  September, 
four  weeks  after  the  publication  of  the  discovery,  Sachse  had 
already  produced  his  first  picture,  at  Berlin.  In  October,  the 
earliest  Daguerrean  apparatus  was  sold  in  Berlin. 

The  first  objects  photographed  by  Sachse  were  architectural 
views,  statuary  and  paintings,  which,  for  two  years,  found  a  ready 
sale  as  curiosities.  It  was  in  1840  that  he  first  represented  groups 
of  living  persons,  and,  in  this  way,  photography  became  especially 
an  art  of  portraiture. 

Daguerre's  first  pictures  needed  an  exposure  of  20  minutes,  too 


56 


long  for  taking  portraits.  He,  therefore,  stated  that  living  objects 
could  not  be  photographed — they  could  not  keep  still  long  enough. 

The  publication  of  the  discovery  produced  the  liveliest  interest 
in  scientific  circles.  Pamphlets  describing  the  apparatus  and  the 
process  were  issued  from  the  French  press.  The  first  to  reach 
New  York  was  brought  from  London  by  Mr.  Seger  of  New  York. 
As  the  packet  ship  on  which  he  sailed  was  leaving  her  dock,  one 
of  Daguerre's  pamphlets  was  thrown  on  the  deck  by  a  friend  of  Mr. 
Seger,  who,  immediately  on  his  arrival  in  New  York,  took  it  to 
Prof.  Morse,  of  Telegraph  fame.  Morse  was  quick  to  see  that  a 
new  Held  of  art-industry  would  be  opened.  He  took  it  to  his 
instrument-maker,  George  W.  Prosch,  and  said,  "  Make  the  appa- 
ratus as  soon  as  you  can."  In  a  few  days  it  was  done,  and  the  first 
trial  was  a  picture  of  the  Old  Brick  Church  (Dr.  Spring's)  and  the 
City  Hall,  with  a  hack,  horses,  and  driver  who  was  sleeping  on  his 
box.  Prosch's  shop  was  in  the  basement  of  the  old  Morse  Build- 
ing, 142  Nassau  street.  The  camera  was  placed  on  the  steps  leading 
to  the  basement.  This  was  the  first  photograph  taken  in  this 
country.  It  was  in  October,  1839,  less  than  a  month  after  Segers 
arrival. 

As  Prosch  did  work  for  me,  I  was  in  his  shop  almost  every 
day,  and  knew  all  that  was  going  on.  Prof.  Morse,  Dr.  James  R 
Chilton,  chemist,  G.  W.  Prosch,  Dr.  John  W.  Draper  and  myself 
entered  with  great  zeal  into  the  practice  of  the  new  art.  The  first 
thing  of  importance  was  to  get  an  accurate  lens  which  could  give 
the  best  result ;  and  the  next,  chemicals  more  sensitive  than  iodine 
to  the  action  of  light.  Draper,  the  accomplished  chemist  and 
afterward  the  renowned  physicist,  was  successful  in  employing  an 
acromatic  lens,  which  he  has  described,  and  in  mixing  bromine 
with  iodine  or  their  salts,  thereby  reducing  the  time  for  the  light 
to  act  upon  the  plate,  and,  as  a  consequence,  obtained  the  first 
portrait  of  a  living  human  face. 

Draper,  in  his  Scientific  Memoirs,  page  215,  in  a  Historical 
Note  on  the  taking  of  portraits  from  life  by  photography,  published 
in  the  London  Philosophical  Magazine,  September,  1840,  says: 
"  This  Memoir  contains  the  first  published  description  of  the 
process  for  taking  daguerreotype  portraits.    That  it  was  possible 


57 


"by  photogenic  processes,  such  as  the  daguerreotype,  to  obtain 
likenesses  from  life  was  first  announced  by  the  author  of  this 
volume  in  a  note  to  the  editors  of  the  Philosophical  Magazine, 
dated  March  31,  1840,  as  may  be  seen  in  that  journal  for  June, 
1840,  page  535.  The  first  portraits  to  which  allusion  is  made  in 
the  following  memoir  were  produced  in  1839,  almost  immediately 
after  Daguerre's  discovery  was  known  in  America,1' 

In  the  Edinburgh  Review  for  January,  1843,  there  is  an 
important  article  on  Photography — in  that,  the  invention  of  the 
art  of  taking  photographic  portraits  is  attributed  to  its  true  source 
> — the  author  of  this  book.  It  says* :  "  He  was  the  first,  we 
believe,  who,  under  the  brilliant  summer  sun  of  New  York,  took 
portraits  by  the  daguerreotype.  This  branch  of  photography  seems 
not  to  have  been  regarded  as  a  possible  application  of  Daguerre's 
invention,  and  no  notice  was  taken  of  it  in  the  reports  made  to  the 
legislative  bodies  of  France.  We  have  been  told  that  Daguerre 
had  not  at  that  period  taken  any  portraits  ;  and,  when  we  consider 
the  period  of  time — twenty  or  twenty-five  minutes —which  was 
then  deemed  necessary  to  get  a  daguerreotype  landscape,  we  do  not 
wonder  at  the  observation  of  a  French  author,  who  describes  the 
taking  of  portraits  as  "  Toujour s  un  terrain  un  peu,  fabuleux pour  le 
Dag  u  erreotype. ' ' 

"  Very  soon  after  M.  Daguerre's  remarkable  process  for 
photogenic  drawing  was  known  in  America,  I  made  attempts  to 
accomplish  its  application  to  the  taking  portraits  from  the  life. 
M.  Arago  had  already  stated,  in  his  address  to  the  Chamber 
of  Deputies,  that  M.  Daguerre  expected  by  a  slight  advance  to 
meet  with  success,  but  as  yet  no  account  had  reached  us  of  that 
object  being  attained. 

"  In  the  first  experiments  I  made  for  obtaining  portraits  from 
the  life,  the  face  of  the  sitter  was  dusted  with  a  white  powder 
under  an  idea  that  otherwise  no  impression  could  be  obtained.  A 
very  few  trials  showed  the  error  of  this,  for,  even  when  the 
sun  was  only  dimly  shining,  there  was  no  difficulty  in  delineating 
the  features." 

Unless  a  prior  date  can  be  shown  in  favor  of  some  other 
photographer,  Draper's  claim  must  stand. 


58 


Proscli  opened  a  daguerrean  gallery  at  the  corner  of  Broadway 
and  Liberty  street.  The  light  of  the  sun  was  thrown  directly  in 
the  face  of  the  sitter  by  means  of  a  mirror,  which  was  suspended 
out  of  the  window.  All  the  portraits,  as  a  consequence,  did  not 
show  the  eyes,  which  gave  the  features  a  ghostly  look.  I  was  one 
of  the  first  to  sit  to  him.  These  early  specimens,  for  I  had  many, 
I  used  to  exhibit  in  my  lectures  on  photography.  But, 
unfortunately,  after  a  few  years1  exposure,  they  faded  out,  for  the 
process  of  gilding  was  not  yet  known  which  makes  the  picture 
permanent. 

About  this  time,  or  soon  after,  many  others  went  into  the 
business,  and  among  the  most  successful  was  A.  S.  Wolcott, 
it  mechanician,  who  opened  daguerrean  rooms  in  the  granite 
building,  No.  273  Broadway,  corner  of  Chambers  street.  I 
immediately  made  his  acquaintance  and  sat  for  my  portraits. 
Several  of  these  are  still  in  my  possession. 

A  fuller  history  of  photography  has  been  given  than  would 
have  been  necessary  had  not  the  priority  of  taking  portraits  been 
questioned.  Some  twenty  years  ago,  an  attempt  was  made  in  the 
American  Institute  of  New  York  to  take  the  honor  from  Draper 
and  give  it  to  A.  S.  Walcott.  A  committee  was  appointed  to 
investigate  the  claim.  Dr.  Draper  was  called  on,  who  furnished 
the  committee  with  a  written  statement,  which  was  substantially 
the  same  as  that  published  in  his  Memoirs.  The  friends  of 
Walcott  refused  to  make  a  statement  in  writing,  and,  as  a 
consequence,  the  matter  was  dropped.  Morse,  I  think,  had  a 
better  claim  than  Walcott,  who  photographed  his  daughter  on  the 
top  of  a  house  in  Broadway  in  1839,  but  he  never  set  up  the 
claim  of  priority  to  Draper's. 

One  of  the  most  valuable  instruments  of  modern  research  is 
the  Spectroscope,  which  was  invented  by  Kirckhoff,  of  Berlin,  in 
1859.  It  has  interpreted  the  dark  lines  of  the  solar  spectrum. 
It  has  solved  the  most  delicate  problems  of  chemical  and  micro- 
scopical investigation  which  seemed  inscrutable  before  this  method 
of  research  had  been  invented.  It  has  penetrated  the  heavens 
and  revealed  the  composition  of  the  sun,  stars  and  nebulas.  It 


59 


has  shown  the  presence  of  several  terrestial  elements  in  the  solar 
atmosphere,  thereby  proving  that  the  Universe  of  worlds  is  com- 
posed of  similar  elementary  matter. 

One  of  the  most  striking  operations  of  spectrum  analysis  is  the 
application' of  it,  devised  by  Dr.  Huggins,  to  the  determination  of 
the  rate  of  motion  of  the  stars,  to  or  from  the  solar  system. 
Light  of  any  color  is  due  to  quicker  vibrations  than  light  of  a 
color  nearer  the  red  end  of  the  spectrum.  Dr.  Huggins  observed, 
that  in  the  spectra  of  some  of  the  stars,  the  dark  lines  were  at 
exactly  the  distance  apart  that  they  would  be  if  they  were  pro- 
duced by  known  gases,  but  that  they  were  all  displaced  out  of 
their  true  positions  on  the  spectrum.  He  therefore  was  led  to 
believe  that  when  the  lines  are  displaced  towards  the  blue  end  of 
the  spectrum,  the  star  is  moving  towards  us  ;  when  towards  the  red 
end,  it  is  moving  from  us.  Knowing  the  wave  length  of  light  of 
every  color,  and  knowing  the  velocity  of  light,  he  was  able  to 
estimate  by  measuring  the  displacement,  the  rate  of  motion  of  the 
star. 

Of  all  the  heavenly  bodies,  that  of  whose  constitution  spec- 
trum analysis  has  taught  us  so  much,  and  that  which  is  the  most 
important  to  us,  being  the  source  of  all  the  heat  and  light  and  life 
of  our  system,  is  the  Sun.  During  a  total  eclipse,  we  can  see 
much  of  him  which  is  ordinarily  obscured  by  his  glare.  He 
appears  to  consist  of  several  concentric  spheres  of  different  sorts  of 
matter.  Outside  all,  is  the  zodiacal  light  which,  on  the  nebular 
hypothesis,  consists  of  uncondensed  nebulous  matter.  Inside  this, 
but  surrounding  the  sun  to  a  distance  about  equal  to  his  diameter 
and  with  streamers  issuing  from  it  to  a  much  greater  distance,  is  a 
bright  glare  called  the  corona.  Inside  this  again  and  close  round 
the  sun,  is  a  rose-colored  envelope  called  the  chromatosphere,  from 
which  prominences  issue  occasionally  to  a  height  of  more  than  a 
third  of  the  sun's  diameter,  and  inside  all  is  the  bright  surface 
of  the  sun,  which  is  ordinarily  visible,  and  which  is  called  the 
photosphere;  on  this  are  dark  spots  which  look  like  holes  opening 
into  unknown,  depths. 

Spectrum  analysis  tells  us  that  the  zodiacal  light  is  reflected 
sunlight ;  that  the  corona  shines  mainly  with  reflected  sunlight 


60 


but  that  it  also  contains  a  self-luminous  unknown  gas  ;  that  the 
chromatosphere  with  its  prominences  consists  almost  entirely  of 
incandescent  hydrogen,  though  occasionally  other  gases  appear  in 
it ;  the  photosphere  gives  the  ordinary  solar  spectrum,  and  there- 
fore must  consist  of  incandescent  solid  or  liquid,  or  gas  at  an 
intensely  great  pressure. 

We  learn,  then :  1.  That  the  temperature  of  the  sun  is  so  high 
that  the  metals  are  in  a  state  of  vapor.  2.  That  we  know  nothing 
of  the  central  parts  of  the  sun.  3.  That  the  photosphere,  or 
brilliant  disc  of  the  sun,  is  probably  gaseous ;  is  the  seat  of  violent 
commotions,  transcending  all  terrestrial  cyclones  ;  is  covered  with 
flame-like  granules;  that  it  contains  two  regions  of  spots,  one  lying 
to  the  north,  the  other  to  the  south  of  the  solar  equator ;  that  the 
spots  revolve  at  different  speeds,  depending  upon  their  latitude ; 
that  the  speed  in  the  northern  zone  are  greater  than  those  in 
corresponding  latitudes  in  the  south  ;  that  the  spots  are  variable  in 
duration;  that  they  come  and  go  in  a  cycle  of  about  11.07  years; 
this  cycle  influences  terrestrial  magnetism,  temperature,  rainfall 
and  other  phenomena;  the  cycle  depends  upon  the  planetary 
positions ;  the  spots  are  comparatively  cool  regions,  caused  by  a 
down-rush  of  vapor ;  the  motion  of  the  vapors  is  cyclonic  ;  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  spots  bright  facula3  occur;  around  the 
photosphere  is  a  region  of  glowing  vapors,  chiefly  hydrogen,  called 
the  chromatosphere,  which  is  the  seat  of  violent  commotions ;  yet, 
plains  and  heaped  prominences  recording  their  existence,  some  of 
which  is  irruptive,  others  cyclonic. 

In  1877,  Professor  Henry  Draper  of  New  York,  in  his 
spectroscopic  experiments,  discovered  oxygen  in  the  sun.  He 
found  that  it  gave  bright  lines  on  the  solar  spectrum  in  contrast  to 
the  dark  lines  given  by  the  metallic  bodies.  For  this  reason,  it 
had  escaped  notice,  for  it  is  more  difficult  to  see  bright  lines  on  a 
bright  spectrum  than  dark  ones.  This  discovery  of  Draper  proves 
the  existence  of  certainly  one  of  the  metalloids  in  the  sun.  It 
also  shows  that  the  solar  spectrum  must  be  regarded  as  continuous, 
with  both  bright  and  dark  lines,  and  that  the  bright  lines  are  in  all 
probability  those  of  the  metalloids.   His  brilliant  discovery  affords 


61 


strong  grounds  for  the  hope  that  metalloids  may  be  detected 
almost  as  readily  as  metals. 

Another  fascinating  study  of  which  we  knew  nothing  in  our 
college  course  is  the  polarization  of  light.  By  the  use  of  the 
polariscope,  adulterations  of  many  articles  of  commerce  can  be 
detected ;  the  existence,  in  many  tissues,  of  differences  of  density 
which  would  be  inappreciable  under  ordinary  illumination ;  beautiful 
appearances  in  all  irregularly  laminated  cells.  In  a  word,  the 
polariscope  is  useful  for  displaying  the  minute  structure  of  many 
substances,  in  some  of  which  it  cannot  be  detected  in  any  other 
way,  and  frequently  causing  crystals  to  present  a  most  gorgeous 
array  of  colors. 

In  1858,  Helmholtz  published  his  interesting  investigations  in 
molecular  mechanics.  It  is  a  mathematical  discussion  of  what  he 
calls  ring- vortices  in  a  perfect,  frictional  fluid,  and  that  they  possess 
an  eternal  perpetuity,  although  passing  through  endless  transforma- 
tions. The  element  of  the  new  physics  is  not  an  atom  or  congeries 
of  atoms,  but  a  whirling  vapor.  All  we  know  of  matter  is  its 
presence  and  its  motion.  The  modern  science  of  Acoustics  is  also 
due  to  this  great  German  philosopher. 

In  1849,  Fizeau,  and,  in  1862,  Foucoult,  undertook  the 
determination  of  the  difficult  problem  of  the  velocity  of  light; 
according  to  the  former  180,000,  according  to  the  latter  185,000 
miles  per  second.  The  difference  in  their  results  is  only  about 
six  per  cent.  The  arithmetical  mean  of  the  two  values  comes 
very  near  to  the  astronomer's  estimate  of  the  velocity  of  light. 
By  these  experiments,  which  were  conducted  on  entirely  different 
methods,  the  science  of  optics  is  placed  on  an  independent  basis. 

METEOKOLOGY. 

This  science  is  of  recent  development.  Lieut.  Eeid  and  Col. 
Fitzroy  of  England,  and  Kedfield  and  Espy  of  this  country,  made 
a  series  of  observations  on  the  laws  of  storms  which  were  published 
in  Silliman's  and  other  journals ;  but  nothing  practical  was  under- 
taken till  a  system  of  observations  was  established  by  the  Regents 
of  the  University  of  New  York,  under  the  patronage  of  the 


62 


Legislature,  in  1825.  The  colleges  and  academies  of  the  State 
were  selected  as  the  proper  agents  to  carry  out  the  purpose  of  the 
Regents.  A  large  accumulation  of  observations  was  made,  but 
owing  to  the  want  of  a  proper  method  of  conducting  the  observa- 
tions, with  uniform  instruments,  the  labor  was  to  a  very  large 
extent  lost. 

In  1849  and  1850,  another  appropriation  was  made  to  establish 
a  new  system  of  observations.  The  Regents  at  Albany  employed 
Prof.  Arnold  Givyot,  of  Neuchatel,  Switzerland,  a  student  long- 
devoted  to  science,  a  pupil  of  Carl  Ritter,  and  author  of  a  valuable 
work  on  Physical  Geography,  and  since  known  as  the  learned 
professor  at  Princeton  College,  to  take  charge  of  the  stations. 

The  following  note  was  received  from  the  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Regents : 

"  Albany,  November  24,  1849. 

"  Charles  E.  West,  Esq.  : 
"  Dear  Sir, — 

"I  send  this  merely  to  say  that  Rutgers  Female  Institute 
has  been  selected  as  one  of  the  meteorological  stations.  Prof. 
Guyot  will  visit  you  some  time  next  month  and  make  all  necessary 
arrangements.  "  Yours  truly, 

"T.  Romeyn  Beck." 

In  accordance  with  the  Secretary's  instructions,  Prof.  Guyot 
visited  me  and  arranged  the  apparatus.  Observations  at  definite 
hours  and  three  times  a  day  were  made,  while  I  remained  in  New 
York,  and  afterward  at  Buffalo. 

In  1850,  a  general  system  of  meteorological  observations  was 
established  at  Washington  under  the  direction  of  Joseph  Henry  of 
the  Smithsonian  Institution.  A  Weather  Bureau  was  established 
by  the  United  States  Government,  and  General  Albert  Meyer,  an 
army  officer,  was  appointed  Superintendent.  Under  his  arrange- 
ment, the  system  was  perfected,  the  advantages  of  which  to 
commerce  and  the  general  industries  of  the  country  are  of 
incalculable  importance. 

One  of  the  most  extraordinary  feats  of  intellectual  power  during 
the  half  century  was  the  calculating  engine  of  Charles  Babbage.  It 


63 


furnishes  demonstrative  evidence  that  the  whole  of  the  develop- 
ments and  operations  of  analysis  are  now  capable  of  being  executed 
by  machinery.  There  are  various  methods  by  which  these 
developments  are  arrived  at:  1.  By  the  aid  of  the  Differential 
and  Integral  Calculus.  2.  By  the  Combinatorial  Analysis  of 
Hindenburg.    3.  By  the  Calculus  of  Derivatives  of  Arbegast 

A  new  science  is  "Kinematics,"  or  what  Prof.  Willis  called  the 
"Science  of  pure  Mechanism,"  and  Eankine  the  "Geometry  of 
machinery,"  and  "Recoleaux  Kinematics." 

Every  department  of  Natural  History  has  been  enlarged  and 
enriched.  Mineralogy,  geology,  paleontology,  botany,  zoology, 
entomology,  etc.,  are  newly  created  sciences.  Our  countrymen 
who  have  labored  in  these  departments  come  in  for  their  share  of 
the  honors.  By  legislative  enactment,  large  sums  of  money  have 
been  expended  for  geological  surveys.  North  Carolina  took  the 
lead  in  1824  and  1825,  under  Prof.  Olmsted;  South  Carolina 
under  Prof.  Yanuxum  :  Massachusetts,  under  Hitchcock,  in  1830 ; 
Maine,  in  1836,  under  C.  F.  Jackson.  New  York,  Connecticut  and 
other  States  have  followed,  and  a  large  mass  of  valuable  informa- 
tion has  been  gained  for  the  benefit  of  the  miner,  the  farmer  and 
the  political  economist 

In  biology,  in  animal  and  vegetable  physiology,  the  microscope 
has  opened  up  new  sources  of  information.  In  the  study  of  cell- 
development,  the  labors  of  Fallopius  in  1562,  Borellus  in  1656, 
Haller  in  1757,  Wolf  in  1759,  and,  many  years  later,  Schleiden 
and  Schwann,  have  been  continued  by  Huxley,  Bastian,  Haeckel, 
Wallace,  Yerchow  and  others.  Huxley,  "  On  the  Physical  Basis 
of  Life,"  observes  that  the  existence  of  the  matter  of  life  depends 
on  the  pre-existence  of  certain  compounds,  namely,  carbonic  acid, 
water  and  ammonia.  Withdraw  any  one  of  these  three  from  the 
world,  and  all  vital  phenomena  are  at  an  end.  They  are  related  to 
the  protoplasm  of  the  plant  as  the  protoplasm  of  the  plant  is  to 
that  of  the  animal.  Carbon,  hydrogen,  oxygen  and  nitrogen  are 
lifeless  bodies.    Of  these,  carbon  and  oxygen  unite  in  certain 


64 


proportions  and  under  certain  conditions,  to  give  rise  to  carbonic 
acid  ;  hydrogen  and  oxygen  produce  water  ;  nitrogen  and  hydrogen 
give  rise  to  ammonia.  These  new  compounds,  like  the  elementary 
bodies  of  which  they  are  composed,  are  lifeless.  But  when  they 
are  brought  together,  under  certain  conditions,  they  give  rise  to  a 
still  more  complex  body — protoplasm — and  this  protoplasm 
exhibits  the  phenomena  of  life.  Subsequently,  cells  are  developed, 
but  they  are  mere  cavities  and  not  independent  entities  ;  organiza- 
tion is  not  affected  by  them ;  they  are  the  visible  results  of  the 
action  of  the  organizing  power  inherent  in  the  living  mass,  or  what 
Wolf  calls  the  vis  essentialis,  and  Bastian  "  Spontaneous  genera- 
tion." Then  comes  the  free  cell  development  of  Schleiden,  which 
he  divides  into  two  distinct  methods  of  cell  growth,  one  of  which, 
the  so-called-"  exogenous  free-cell  formation,"  must  be  regarded  as 
a  true  creative  art,  while  the  other,  "  endogenous  cell  formation,"  is 
a  mere  continuance  of  the  process,  or  cell  formation.  In  the  midst 
of  a  perfectly  structureless,  clear,  transparent  fluid,  which  he  calls 
blastema,  cyto-blastema,  granules  are  first  seen,  some  of  which 
increase  in  size  and  assume  the  form  of  a  minute  visicle,  the 
nucleus  of  the  future  cell.  On  the  addition  of  water  to  this, 
granules  become  apparent  in  its  interior,  and  one  of  these,  larger 
than  the  rest,  appears  to  be  the  nucleolus.  Around  the  nucleolus, 
the  cell  membrane  is  developed  and  the  cell  is  completed. 

In  1858,  the  doctrine  of  spontaneous  evolution  was  revived  by 
Pouchet  of  France.  Pasteur  of  the  French  Academy  repeated 
Pouchet's  experiments  and  found  them  of  no  value.  Bastian  of 
London  declared  that  he  was  justified  in  "believing  that  living 
things  may  and  do  arise,  de  novo."  In  his  "  Beginnings  of  Life," 
he  declares  that  monads,  bactrias,  torulas,  vibrios,  liptothrix, 
filaments,  fungus,  spores,  etc.,  are  developed  from  solutions  of 
organic  and  saline  substances  absolutely  destitute  of  living  germs ; 
hence  they  must  originate  de  novo. 

Here  we  have  among  these  naturalists,  what  may  be  called  the 
battle  of  the  Cell !  The  question  comes,  Wliat  is  Life  ?  Ah  ! 
That  is  the  question  of  questions!  No  chemical  analysis  is  subtle 
enough  to  determine  that !  No  penetrating  power  of  the  sunbeam, 
however  skillfully  used,  can  pierce  that  inscrutable  secret  of  the 


65 


Almighty  !  He  who  made  the  elementary  matter  which  combines 
in  certain  well-known  proportions  lias  simian,  his  creative  power, 
but  chosen  to  conceal  that  impalpable,  subtle  something,  which 
vitalizes  the  vegetable  and  animal  organism  which  we  call  life! 
The  secret  of  his  working  lies  outside  of  the  domain  of  philo- 
sophical investigation. 

There  is  an  unwillingness  on  the  part  of  many  scientific  men  to 
admit  a  Power  acting  on  matter  "from  without,"  a  God  who 
"orders  the  Universe  from  a  position  outside  it  all."  Tyndall, 
while  treating  of  and  explaining  the  methods  of  Nature,  entirely 
drops  out  of  thought  the  Power  which  works  along  these  methods. 
"  The  very  story  of  saline  crystals  and  ice-stars,  and  fern  fronds  and 
human  birth,"  he  asks,  "What  else  is  there  here  than  matter?" 
Much !  The  movements  of  matter,  with  their  disposing  and 
formative  power,  the  attracting  and  repelling  energies,  which, 
dealing  with  molecules  and  cells,  are  not  molecules  and  cells. 
Science  deals  only  with  sequences  and  succession  of  phenomena — 
not  with  causality.  Science  cannot  tell  us  what  it  is  that  does  the 
work — what  it  is  that  produces  these  movements  of  matter. 

Evolution  cannot  account  for  the  origin  of  things,  nor  can  it 
explain  the  general  laws  of  Nature.  There  never  was  and  never 
can  be  any  evidence  that  inanimate  matter  can  produce  mincl,  or 
that  mechanical  action  can  produce  mental  activity.  There  is  not 
even  the  semblance  of  the  presence  in  the  original  atoms  scientists 
talk  about,  of  the  life,  mind,  feeling,  consciousness,  power  of  judg- 
ment, discernment  and  reasoning  that  subsequently  make  them- 
selves manifest. 

Scientists  generally  agree  that  "force  can  neither  be  created  nor 
destroyed,"  and  that  "the  quantity  of  force  in  nature  is  just  as 
eternal  and  unalterable  as  the  quantity  of  matter." 

Dr.  Barnard,  in  his  address  before  the  Scientific  Association  in 
1869,  says :  "  Organic  changes  are  physical  effects,  and  may  be 
received  without  hesitation  as  the  representative  equivalents  of 
physical  forces  expended.  But  sensation,  will,  emotion,  passion, 
thought,  are  in  no  conceivable  sense  physical. 

"  The  philosophy  which  makes  thought  a  form  of  force,  makes 
thought  a  mode  of  motion,  converts  the  thinking  being  into  a 


66 


mechanical  automaton,  whose  sensations,  emotions  and  intellections 
are  mere  vibrations  produced  in  its  material  substance  by  the  play 
of  physical  forces,  and  whose  conscious  existence  must  forever 
cease  when  the  exhausted  organism  shall,  at  length,  fail  to  respond 
to  these  external  impulses. 

"  Thought  can  not  be  a  physical  force,  because  it  admits  of  no 
measure.  A  thing  unsusceptible  of  measure  cannot  be  a  quantity, 
and  a  thing  that  is  not  even  a  quantity  cannot  be  a  force." 

In  this  connection,  allow  me  to  introduce  a  few  passages  from 
the  famous  ''Discourse  on  Molecules,"  delivered  before  the  British 
Association  at  Bradford,  in  September,  1873,  b}^  James  Clark 
Maxwell :  "  In  the  heavens  we  discover  by  their  light,  and  by 
their  light  alone,  stars  so  distant  from  each  other  that  no  material 
thing  can  ever  have  passed  from  one  to  another;  and  yet  this 
light,  which  is  to  us  the  sole  evidence  of  the  existence  of  these 
distant  worlds,  tells  us  also  that  each  of  them  is  built  up  of 
molecules  of  the  same  kind  as  those  which  we  find  on  earth.  A 
molecule  of  hydrogen,  for  example,  whether  in  Sirius  or  Arcturus, 
executes  its  vibrations  in  precisely  the  same  time. 

"  Each  molecule,  therefore,  throughout  the  universe  has  im- 
pressed upon  it  the  stamp  of  a  metric  system  as  distinctly  as 
does  the  metre  of  the  Archives  at  Paris,  or  the  double  roj^al  cubit 
of  the  temple  of  Karnac. 

"No  theory  of  evolution  can  be  formed  to  account  for  the 
similarity  of  molecules,  for  evolution  necessarily  implies  continuous 
change,  and  the  molecule  is  incapable  of  growth,  or  decay,  of 
generation  or  destruction." 

None  of  the  processes  of  Nature  since  the  time  when  Nature 
began  have  produced  the  slightest  difference  in  the  properties  of 
any  molecule.  We  are  therefore  unable  to  ascribe  either  the 
existence  of  the  molecules  or  the  identity  of  their  properties  to  any 
of  the  causes  which  we  call  natural. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  exact  equality  of  a  molecule  to  all  others 
of  the  same  kind  gives  it,  as  Sir  John  Herschel  has  well  said,  the 
essential  character  of  a  manufactured  article,  and  precludes  the  idea 
of  its  being  eternal  and  self -existent. 

Thus  we  have  been  led  along  a  strictly  scientific  path,  very 


67 


near  to  the  point  at  which  science  must  stop.  Not  that  science  is 
debarred  from  studying  the  interna]  mechanism  of  a  molecule 
which  she  cannot  take  to  pieces,  any  more  than  from  investigating 
an  organism  which  she  cannot  put  together.  But  in  tracing  back 
the  history  of  matter,  science  is  arrested  when  she  assures  herself, 
on  the  one  hand,  that  the  molecule  has  been  made,  and,  on  the 
other,  that  it  has  not  been  made  by  any  of  the  processes  we  call 
natural. 

Science  is  incompetent  to  reason  upon  the  creation  of  matter 
itself  out  of  nothing.  We  have  reached  the  utmost  limits  of  our 
thinking  faculties  when  we  have  admitted  that,  because  matter 
cannot  be  eternal  and  self-existent,  it  must  have  been  created. 

It  is  only  when  we  contemplate,  not  matter  in  itself,  but  the 
form  in  which  it  actually  exists,  that  our  mind  finds  something  on 
which  it  can  lay  hold. 

That  matter,  as  such,  should  have  certain  fundamental  properties 
—that  it  should  exist  in  space  and  be  capable  of  motion — that  its 
motion  should  be  persistent,  and  so  on — are  truths  which  may  be, 
for  anything  we  know,  of  the  kind  which  metaphysicians  call 
necessary.  We  may  use  our  knowledge  of  such  truths  for 
purposes  of  deduction,  but  we  have  no  data  for  speculating  as  to 
their  origin. 

But  that  there  should  be  exactty  so  much  matter  and  no  more 
in  every  molecule  of  hydrogen  is  a  fact  of  a  very  different  order. 
We  have  here  a  particular  distribution  of  matter — a  collocation — 
to  use  the  expression  of  Dr.  Chalmers,  of  things  which  we  have  a 
difficulty  in  imagining  to  have  been  arranged  otherwise. 

The  form  and  dimensions  of  the  orbits  of  the  planets,  for 
instance,  are  not  determined  by  any  law  of  nature,  but  depend 
upon  a  particular  collocation  of  matter.  The  same  is  the  case  with 
respect  to  the  size  of  the  earth  from  which  the  standard  of  what  is 
called  the  metric  system  has  been  derived.  But  these  astronomical 
and  terrestrial  magnitudes  are  far  inferior  in  scientific  importance 
to  that  most  fundamental  of  all  standards  which  forms  the  base  of 
the  molecular  system.  Natural  causes,  as  we  know,  are  at  work, 
which  tend  to  modify,  if  they  do  not  at  length  destroy,  all  the 
arrangements  and  dimensions  of  the  earth  and  the  whole  solar 


68 


system.  But  though  in  the  course  of  ages  catastrophes  have 
occurred,  and  may  yet  occur,  in  the  heavens,  though  ancient 
systems  may  be  dissolved  and  new  systems  evolved  out  of  their 
ruins,  the  molecules  out  of  which  these  systems  are  built — the 
foundation-stones  of  the  material  universe — remain  unbroken  and 
unworn.  They  continue  this  day  as  they  were  created — perfect  in 
number  and  measure  and  weight;  and  from  the  ineffaceable 
characters  impressed  on  them,  we  may  learn  that  those  aspirations 
after  accuracy  in  measurement  and  justice  in  action,  which  we 
reckon  among  our  noblest  attributes  as  men,  are  ours  because  they 
are  essential  constituents  of  the  image  of  Him  who  in  the  beginning 
created  not  onl}T  the  heaven  and  the  earth,  but  the  materials  of 
which  heaven  and  earth  consist.  A  scientific  conception  of  the 
universe  must  embrace  the  three  mysteries — Matter,  Life  and  God. 

We  need  not  trouble  ourselves  with  anxieties  about  questions 
which  Science  may  suggest ;  we  feel  sure,  as  Graham  remarks, 
"that  there  is  in  the  Universe  an  existence  over  and  above  all 
phenomena,  whether  viewed  as  unconditional  existence  with  Kant ; 
as  infinite  substance  with  Spinoza;  as  inscrutable  Power  with 
Spencer  ;  a  transcendent  Something,  of  which  matter  and  mind  are 
alike  merely  phenomenal  manifestations  or  modes  which  are  far 
from  being  exhaustive  of  its  whole  nature.  There  is  an  Ultimate 
Reality,  vaster  and  deeper  than  all  we  know  or  dream  of  matter, 
grander  than  all  we  can  think  of  or  imagine,  in  mind.  There  is  a 
mighty  living  and  universal  Power  which  lives  and  moves  in  the 
universal  being  and  essence  of  all  persons — a  Power,  resistless  but 
beneficent,  of  which  matter  and  energy,  life  and  light,  thought  and 
volition,  are  but  forms ;  a  Power,  too,  whose  exhaustless  life  and 
energy  are  but  slightly  drawn  upon  by  all  the  various  demands 
made  upon  it  in  our  little  earth,  working,  as  it  does,  simultaneously 
as  one  and  the  same  power  in  each  of  the  myriad  stellar  systems 
disposed  through  infinite  space.  In  the  most  distant  orbs,  from 
which  Science,  by  her  searching  analysis  and  improved  methods  of 
observation,  has  recently  brought  back  her  spectroscopic,  supple- 
menting here  telescopic,  reports;  the  same  Power  is  displayed  in 
the  composition  of  matter  and  in  the  maintainance  of  law  as  at 
home  on  the  earth ;   and  probably  in  many  of  those  distant 


no 

spheres  it  works  in  the  production  of  life,  while  probably  alsoT 
nay  somewhere  certainly;  and  whether  working  by  other  and 
superior  art,  or  working,  as  here,  by  natural  selection  chiefly,  it  has 
attained  to  grander  and  more  excellent  results  than  the  choicest 
terrestrial  things — to  a  truth  more  clear  and  free  from  error,  to  a 
beauty  more  pervading,  to  a  happiness  less  fugitive  and  more 
unalloj^ed,  to  a  virtue  superior  to  our  poor  earthly  product." 

This  Ultimate  Power  "is  no  more  representable  in  terms 
of  human  consciousness  than  human  consciousness  is  representable 
in  terms  of  a  plant's  formation."  While  man  remains  subject  to 
the  limitations  of  consciousness,  he  cannot  compass  in  thought  an 
existence  transcending  all  consciousness,  and  man  must  be  forever 
subject  to  these  limitations. 

This  Ultimate  Reality  in  the  universe  is  God. 

There  is  a  Power  behind  phenomena,  which  produces  them ;  a 
substance  one  and  the  same  at  the  bottom  of  the  universe  and  of 
our  thought,  which  preserves  them  both  in  law  and  order;  a 
Power  whose  existence  is  our  only  final  guarantee  that  the 
physical  universe  will  not  resolve  itself  into  chaos  before  our  eyes7 
and  that  the  universal  reason  will  keep  steady  on  her  throne.  This 
Power  removed — if  we  could  or  dare  suppose  it — anarchy  in  the 
atoms,  universal  chaos  within  and  without,  in  the  brain  and  in  the 
cosmos,  is  conceivable ;  this  Power  present  and  eternally  support- 
ing all  is  our  guarantee  to  the  contrary.  And,  once  more,  this 
final  support  and  Power,  is  God. 

In  looking  over  Newton's  Principia,  I  came  across  this 
memorable  utterance,  which  shows  that  his  intuitive  powers 
brought  within  the  range  of  his  vision  the  philosophies  of 
our  time. 

"The  world  is  not  God,  as  the  Pantheists  affirm.  It  did  not 
exist  from  eternity,  as  the  Peripatetics  taught.  It  was  not  made 
by  Fate  and  Necessity,  as  the  Stoics  said.  It  did  not  arise 
from  a  fortuitous  concourse  of  atoms,  as  the  Epicureans  asserted, 
nor  from  the  antagonism  of  two  rival  powers,  as  the  Persians  and 
Manicheans  affirmed ;  nor  was  it  made  by  angels,  or  by  incarnations 
of  aeons,  as  some  of  the  ancient  Gnostics  held ;  nor  out  of  matter 
co-eternal  with  God,  as  Hermogenes  said;  nor  by  spontaneous 


70 


energy  and  evolution  of  self-developing  powers,  as  some  have 
affirmed  in  later  days;  but  it  was  created  by  One,  Almighty, 
Eternal,  Wise  and  Good  Being — God." 

That  which  caused  the  integration  of  the  earth  and  the 
production  of  light  and  heat,  was  energy.  Energy  may  be  defined 
as  the  power  of  doing  work.  There  is  always  a  tendency,  in  every 
transformation  of  energy,  to  pass  from  a  higher  to  a  lower  form ; 
indeed,  all  the  energy  in  the  universe  is  passing  on  to  the  lowest 
and  final  form  of  equally  diffused  heat.  This,  the  dissipation  of 
energy,  is  by  no  means  well  understood.  There  can  be  little 
question  that  the  principle  concerns  the  whole  theory  of  thermo- 
electricity, of  chemical  combination,  of  allotropy,  of  phosphores- 
cence, etc.,  and  perhaps,  matters  of  a  higher  order  than  common 
physics  and  chemistry.  In  astronomy,  it  shows  us  the  material  of 
potential  suns  in  the  process  of  formation,  in  vigorons  youth,  in  the 
phase  of  habitation  for  life,  and  in  every  other  stage  of  lingering 
decay.  It  reveals  to  us  every  planet  and  satellite  as  formerly  a  tiny 
sun.  It  carries  forward  our  thought  to  a  time  when  the  materials  of 
present  systems  shall  be  component  parts  of  future  larger  suns  and 
planets.  Finally,  it  conducts  us  to  that  necessary  future,  if 
physical  laws  remain  unchanged  when  the  present  glittering  show 
of  life  will  be  dark  and  cold  and  dead.  It  also  reminds  us  of  a 
beginning,  a  state  beyond  which  we  are  totally  unable  to  penetrate, 
a  state  produced  by  other  than  now  visibly  acting  causes,  by  that 
transfer  of  energy  from  the  Unknown  of  which  the  universe  and 
all  material  phenomena  are  memorials. 

The  elementary  atoms,  possessing  their  own  shapes  and  powers, 
arrange  themselves  into  molecules  of  manifold  combination  and 
exceeding  variety  of  vibrations.  When  raised  to  incandescence,  or 
white  heat,  and  their  lights  are  tested  by  spectrum  analysis,  the 
glowing  vapors  indicate  by  luminous  lines  the  different  elements 
which  are  in  combustion;  thus  we  are  learning  of  what  materials 
the  sun  and  stars  are  composed. 

Heat  and  light  are  the  product  of  a  transfer  of  energy. 
Transfer  of  energy,  through  a  solid  body,  is  effected  simply  by 
/ibration  of  the  solid  body ;  through  air,  by  setting  it  in  motion  at 

own  period  of  vibration ;  through  what  we  call  a  vacuum,  by 


71 


the  magnetic  medium — that  which  Clark  Maxwell  gives  reason  to 
believe  is  the  medium  which  conveys  light  and  radiant  heat. 
Vibrations  occurring  less  frequently  than  sixteen  times  in  a 
second,  produce  in  us  consciousness  of  a  succession  of  noises. 
Vibrations  occurring  oftener  than  16,  but  less  than  30,000  times 
in  a  second,  produce  in  us  the  consciousness  of  musical  notes, 
varying  in  pitch  with  the  vibrations.  Vibrations  occurring  oftener 
than  30,000,  but  less  than  458,000,000,000,000  times  in  a  second, 
do  not  affect  us  through  the  ears ;  but  the  more  rapid  ones,  acting 
through  the  nerves  of  the  skin,  produce  in  us  the  consciousness  of 
heat.  Vibrations  at  the  rate  of  458,000,000,000,000  in  a  second 
affect  us  through  the  eyes,  and  produce  our  consciousness  of  red 
light.  As  the  vibrations  increase,  corresponding  shades  of  color 
appear,  until,  at  the  rate  of  720,000,000,000,000  in  a  second,  we 
have  the  consciousness  of  violet  light.  Higher  rates  produce  no 
definite  state  of  consciousness  in  us.  Thus,  by  one  and  the  same 
external  agency — vibrations  among  particles  of  matter — are  sensa- 
tions caused,  as  sound,  heat,  light. 

In  sound  waves,  the  particles  of  air  vibrate  back  .and  forward 
in  the  direction  travelled  by  the  sound.  If  by  another  sound  we 
raise  such  undulations  as  fill  the  depressions  in  the  waves  of  the 
former  sound,  this  adding  of  sound  to  sound  will  cause  silence. 
Light  and  heat  travel  at  a  rate  of  about  186,000  miles  a  second; 
the  direction  of  the  vibration  is  across  the  direction  in  which  they 
move.  Two  sets  of  rays  may  be  made  so  to  interfere  with  one 
another  as  to  be  mutually  destructive.  The  two  rays  of  light 
produce  darkness,  and  the  two  rays  of  heat  cause  heat  to  dis- 
appear. Passing  a  beam  of  solar  or  electric  light  through  a 
prism,  we  obtain  the  beautiful  colors  of  the  spectrum.  At  one 
end  is  the  red,  at  the  other  the  violet,  the  remaining  prismatic 
colors  lying  between.  Ked  is  the  hottest  of  the  colors,  and 
beyond  it  are  the  invisible  rays  called  the  heat  rays.  Violet  is 
the  coldest,  and  beyond  it  are  the  actinic  or  chemical  rays,  also 
invisible.  In  the  three — heat,  light,  actinism — reside  the  miracu- 
lous generative  energy,  which  fills  the  earth  with  warmth,  life  and 
splendor.  Concerning  their  nature,  whether  we  call  it  vibration,  or 
heat,  or  light,  or  actinism,  we  affirm  nothing  and  know  nothing. 


72 


To  a  certain  extent  we  can  give  a  mechanical  explanation  of 
heat  and  light,  as  the  products  presented  to  our  consciousness  of 
a  perpetual  tumbling,  or  swaying  to  and  fro  of  the  invisible  atoms 
of  which  visible  bodies  are  composed ;  but  when  the  explanation 
is  connected  with  the  linked  purpose  of  the  whole,  we  are  con- 
scious of  wisdom  and  might  exceeding  all  our  thought.  Light, 
wonderful  and  mysterious,  is  but  a  single  point  in  the  vast  scheme 
of  nature.  It  is  passed  through  ether  by  means  of  transversal 
disturbances  or  vibrations.  Several  optical  phenomena  indicate 
that  a  disturbance  partaking,  if  such  be  possible,  of  the  nature  of 
compression,  would  be  transmitted  with  a  velocity  almost  infinitely 
great  in  comparison  with  the  existing  velocity. 

The  medium  actually  used,  ether,  is  specially  fitted  for  the 
transmission  of  the  small  waves  which  constitute  light.  The 
waves  are  so  small,  that  from  forty  to  fifty  thousand  are  required 
to  occupy  the  breadth  of  an  inch,  and  trillions  enter  the  eye 
during  a  few  seconds.  The  red  wave  has  a  length  of  the 
to  oVo1  oo o tn  Part  °f  an  incu-  IR  one  second  458,000,000  of 
vibrations  occur.  At  the  line  H,  in  the  violet,  the  length  of  the 
wave  is  yo.oVVW o^1  Part  °f  an  inch,  and  the  number  of  vibrations 
is  727,000,000  the  second.  The  optic  nerve  is  not  conscious  of 
the  heat  in  the  hot  rays,  nor  of  waves  larger  than  the  red,  nor  of 
those  smaller  than  the  violet.  The  eye  is  only  able  to  see 
different  proportions  of  the  three  primaries — red,  green,  violet ; 
therefore  our  sight  may  be  fairly  considered  as  rudimentary. 
Every  one  of  these  is  capable  of  innumerable  different  degrees  of 
sensation;  one,  two  or  three  primary  colors.  What  a  manifold 
undeveloped  system  of  signs  and  images  we  have  within  us. 

Again,  I  would  allude  to  the  microscope,  and  in  connection 
with  it,  to  the  scientific  labors  of  Ehrenberg  and  Bailey  of  West 
Point. 

A  few  words  in  respect  to  the  microscope.  Its  history  would 
require  a  treatise.  It  is  one  of  the  most  important  instruments  in 
modern  research.  I  have  seen  its  development  from  the  ordinary 
magnifying  glasses  of  the  shops,  to  the  magnificent  lenses  of 
Tolles,  Spencer,  Wales,  Miller,  Powell  and  Lealand,  Koss,  Beck, 
Hartnach,  Zeiss,  Gunlach,  and  other  makers  of  first-class  object- 


73 


ives.  I  have  in  my  collection  the  finest  English,  French,  German 
and  American  achromatic  lenses,  varying  in  focal  distance  from 
five  inches  to  the  fiftieth  of  an  inch.  My  best  lenses  are  American. 
Among  these  are  Tolles'  tenth,  twenty-fifth  and  fiftieth  ;  Wales' 
thirtieth ;  Miller's  eighteenth  and  fortieth,  and  Spencer's  fourth. 
The  latter  is  the  most  remarkable  lens  in  my  collection  of  fifty 
objectives.  It  was  made  by  the  younger  Spencer.  It  will  resolve 
the  Amphipleura  Pelucida,  Nobert's  nineteenth  band,  which  are 
among  the  most  difficult  tests  of  the  resolving  power  of  objectives. 
I  have  not  time  to  speak  of  microscopical  stands  and  their 
accessories  which  have  been  carried  to  great  perfection.  The 
microscope,  for  its  perfectability  of  workmanship  and  for  its 
marvelous  revelations,  rivals  the  telescope,  great  as  has  been  the 
improvement  of  the  latter  during  the  past  fifty  years. 

Although  the  science  of  microscopy  is  of  comparatively  recent 
origin,  it  has  taken  equal  rank  in  value  and  importance  with  its 
sister  science,  telescopy.  In  practical,  every  -  day  life,  the 
microscope  is  of  far  greater  value  to  society  than  the  telescope. 
Its  range,  it  is  true,  is  limited  to  the  objects  of  earth.  It  acquaints 
us  with  the  structure  and  functions  of  organism,  which  are 
altogether  too  minute  to  be  seen  by  ordinary  and  unassisted  vision. 
It  enables  us  to  revel  in  a  world  of  beauty.  The  stranger  to  the 
microscope  can  form  no  conception  of  the  delicate  forms  and 
picturesque  groupings  which  everywhere  abound  in  the  micros- 
copic world.  God's  marvelous  and  exquisite  handiwork  is  more 
fully  revealed  in  these  tiny  microcosms,  than  in  the  grosser  forms 
with  which  in  ordinary  life  we  are  familiar. 

Every  child  should  be  taught  the  use  of  the  microscope.  A 
few  shillings  will  put  him  in  possession  of  an  instrument  that 
will  introduce  him  into  a  new  world,  and  make  his  life  richer  and 
happier. 

Its  practical  use  in  the  arts  is  not  to  be  estimated.  In  the 
investigations  of  the  physiologist  and  anatomist,  it  is  indispensable, 
for  to  what  else  but  to  this  instrument,  does  histology  owe  its 
origin  and  development?  Some  glimpses  of  organic"1  structure  had 
been  obtained  by  the  earlier  observers,  Leenwenhoek,  Malpighi, 
Hooke  and  others ;  but  these,    for  the  most  part,  consisted  of 


74 


unconnected  observations,  from  which  it  was  impossible  to  educe 
any  of  the  general  laws  of  formation  and  development.  But  nowr 
through  the  researches  of  such  earnest  and  devoted  histologists  as 
Bichat,  Schwann,  Reichert,  Vogt,  Kolhker,  Schleiden,  Quekett 
and  Carpenter,  we  are  made  acquainted  with  the  minute  tissues  of 
animal  and  vegetable  bodies.  The  tissues  have  not  only  been 
examined  in  their  healthy  but  also  in  their  abnormal  diseased 
condition,  so  that  we  have  not  only  a  microscopic  physiology,  but 
a  microscopic  pathology. 

But  there  is  not  time  to  speak  further  of  the  uses  of  the 
microscope.  Of  its  construction  and  of  those  who  have  dis- 
tinguished themselves  in  developing  this  almost  perfect  instrument, 
we  would  like  to  devote  an  entire  paper.  A  few  words  in  regard 
to  the  most  important  part  of  the  microscope — the  objectives.  In 
the  construction  of  these,  lies  the-  maker's  skill  and  the  value  of 
his  reputation.  For  the  last  thirty  years,  the  improvement  in 
lenses  has  been  marked  and  progressive.  Such  is  the  perfection 
of  the  immersion  lense  of  to-day,  that  it  seems  impossible  to  add 
anything  more  to  its  value.  All  the  mechanical  difficulties  have 
been  overcome.  The  excellence  of  a  lense  depends  upon  its 
freedom  from  chromatic  and  spherical  aberration,  and  upon  the 
magnitude  of  its  angular  aperture,  definition  resulting  from  the 
former  and  penetration  from  the  latter.  The  advantages  claimed 
for  immersion  lenses  are :  greater  working  distance  between  the 
object  and  objective,  increase  of  light  and  superior  definition  and 
clearness  in  the  optical  image,  which  image  is  obtained  by  much 
simpler  illuminating  apparatus,  and  with  less  manipulative  skill  than 
that  considered  indispensable  in  using  high-power  dry  objectives. 

"  It  is  not  difficult  to  see,"  says  Mayall,  "  that  Amici's  system  of 
connecting  the  objective  with  the  cover  glass  by  a  film  of  water, 
very  much  diminishes  the  reflection  which  necessarily  takes  place 
on  the  incidence  of  oblique  light  when  the  dry  objective  is  used. 
The  limiting  angle  of  refraction  in  water  being  about  48  degrees, 
it  follows  that,  whatever  is  the  degree  of  obliquity  in  the  incident 
light  on  the  object,  the  immersion  objective  never  has  to  do  with 
rays  of  greater  obliquity  than  48  degrees.  To  this,  in  great  measure, 
is  due  the  greater  clearness  and  precision  of  the  image  obtained." 


75 


Great  perfection  has  been  reached  in  the  preparation  of  micros- 
copic objects.  The  Dams  and  Germans  lead  in  this  department. 
The  mounting  of  diatoms  by  I.  D.  Miller,  of  Wedel,  is  beyond 
all  competition.  This  Diatomaceen  Typen-Platte,  as  lie  terms  it, 
has  under  cover  four  hundred  diatoms,  without  counting  the 
Eupodiscus  Argus,  sixteen  in  number,  which  he  has  placed  at  the 
•corners  of  the  four  squares  in  which  he  has  grouped  his  specimens. 
These  he  has  catalogued  and  arranged  under  seventeen  orders, 
according  to  the  classification  of  A.  Gurnow,  of  Vienna,  the  Epith- 
emieae,  Meridioneae,  Diatomeae,  Tabellarieie,  Surirelleae,  Nitzs- 
chieae,  Amphipleureae,  Cocconeidea?,  Achnantheae,  Cymbelleaae, 
Gomphonemeae,  Navieulacea&,  Isthmeae,  Biddulphieae,  Eupodisceae, 
Melosireas  and  Chaetocereae — ninety-nine  genera  and  three  hundred 
and  eighteen  species — a  complete  cabinet  of  diatoms,  and  all  on 
one  slide. 

Of  injected  animal  tissues,  those  of  Prof.  Tiersch,  of  the 
University  of  Leipsic,  are  of  unequaled  perfection  and  beauty. 
There  are  in  my  cabinet  more  than  four  hundred  of  them.  Edward 
Bicknell,  of  Cambridge,  and  I.  Bourgogue,  of  Paris,  have  done 
admirable  work  in  this  line. 

But  I  wish  to  speak  of  Ehrenberg  and  his  microscopic  labor. 
Researches  in  this  extremely  difficult  branch  of  science  began  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  before  Ehrenberg  entered  upon  his 
successful  career.  He  was  bom  in  Dehbisch,  Saxonia,  April, 
1795.  He  entered  the  University  of  Leipsic  in  1815,  and  received 
his  medical  diploma  in  1819.  His  thesis  was  "  A  New  System  of 
Moulds,"  which,  on  publication,  created  a  sensation  in  the  scientific 
world.  He  described  in  this  pamphlet  240  different  forms  of 
microscopical  plants,  which,  before  his  researches  became  public, 
were  taken  as  Infusoria.  It  attracted  the  attention  of  the  Prussian 
Academy  of  Science,  and  in  consequence,  he  was  recommended 
for  similar  investigations  which  were  intended  to  be  made  in 
Egypt.  The  Prussian  government  sent  him,  at  its  expense,  to 
that  country,  and  extended  its  period  after  two  years  of  his  stay 
there,  to  six  years.  The  result  of  his  labors  were  published  on 
his  return  in  his  "Symbolae  Physicae ;  "  "On  the  Corals  of  the 
Red  Sea,"  and  its  Akoliphia. 


76 


Although  these  coral  banks  were  known  to  Pliny  and  Strabo, 
nothing  definite  could  be  said  of  them;  they  were  believed  to  be 
plants  which  putrify  on  reaching  the  surface  of  the  water. 

Ehrenberg  classified  and  described  one  hundred  and  fifty 
species  of  these  animalculae,  of  which  the  lives  of  centuries  are 
required  to  increase  in  a  small  degree  the  height  of  these  banks. 

On  his  return  from  Egypt,  he  received  from  the  Prussian 
government  the  Professorship  of  the  University  of  Berlin,  and  a 
few  j^ears  later,  he  was  invited  to  accompany  Humboldt  and  Kosc 
to  Asia  to  make  investigations  in  natural  history,  which  he 
accepted. 

They  returned  in  1839.  In  1853  his  great  works,  "  The 
Infusoria  as  Perfect  Organism,"  and  "  Microgeology,"  were  pub- 
lished, which  were  illustrated  by  excellent  drawings  made  by 
himself.    These  works  are  now  rare  and  exceedingly  costly. 

Microscopical  life  was  the  great  and  wonderful  subject  which 
he  undertook  to  investigate.  For  this  purpose  he  travelled  in 
Europe,  Asia  and  Africa,  corresponded  with  scientific  men,  and 
was  supplied  with  infusorial  specimens  from  all  parts  of  the  world 
— from  the  arctic  regions  as  well  as  from  the  tropics ;  from  the 
highest  mountains  to  a  depth  of  12,000  feet  below  the  surface; 
from  the  source  of  rivers  as  well  as  from  the  coasts  of  lakes. 
These  microscopic  beings,  living  and  fossil,  he  examined  and 
showed  their  forms  to  be  infinite. 

Not  only  existing  forms  of  infusoria  were  found  by  him,  but 
those  also  of  thousands  of  years  ago.  He  made  forty  microscopic 
analyses  of  each  specimen  sent  him,  from  which  it  may  be  inferred 
that  his  observations  were  reliable  and  highly  esteemed.  He 
gained  the  admiration  of  the  scientific  world,  and  was  made  an 
honorary  member  of  their  learned  societies.  Cuvier  said  that 
Ehrenberg  s  labors  would  make  him  immortal.  Like  most  of 
great  men,  he  was  amiable,  humble  and  unpretending. 

A  contemporary  of  Ehrenberg  in  microscopical  analysis  of 
Infusoria,  was  Prof.  J.  W.  Bailey,  of  West  Point,  who  was  born 
April  29,  1811,  in  Auburn,  Massachusetts.  He  graduated  from 
the  Military  Academy,  July,  1832.  In  1839  he  was  appointed 
Professor  of  Chemistry,  Mineralogy  and  Geology,  in  the  same 


77 


A.cademy,  and  remained  there  till  his  death',  in  February,  1857. 
His  taste  for  science  was  very  largely  developed.  Beginning  with 
botany  and  mineralogy,  and  passing  from  those  to  geology,  chem- 
istry and  microscopy,  he  traversed  a  large  portion  of  the  field  of 
natural  science.  Bv  his  great  skill  with  the  pencil,  he  made 
valuable  drawings  of  vegetable  and  animal  tissues,  and  later,  of 
diatoms,  algae,  etc.  His  microscopic  and  collecting  bottles  were 
his  constant  travelling  companions. 

His  published  papers  are  numerous — more  than  fifty.  They 
are  mostly  to  be  found  in  Silliman's  Journal  of  Science,  and  in  the 
Smithsonian  Contributions  to  Knowledge,  except  one  in  the  first 
volume  of  the  Transactions  of  the  Association  of  Geologists  and 
Naturalists,  which  embodied  his  previous  papers  on  the  Infusoria 
of  the  United  States. 

In  March,  1839,  he  sketched  a  new  diatom,  to  which  Ehren- 
berg  gave  the  complimentary  name  Stauronema  Baileyi. 

His  microscopical  collection  is  an  honor  to  American  science. 
The  slides,  five  hundred  and  fifty  in  number,  are  arranged  in  boxes 
in  the  form  of  octavos,  consisting  of  twenty -four  volumes.  There 
are  more  than  three  thousand  objects  fixed  upon  those  slides,  much 
of  which  are  described  by  him.  The  collection  of  algae  is  equally 
complete.  It  consists  of  thirty -two  portfolios,  containing  about 
4,500  specimens — a  remarkable  collection ;  few,  if  any,  surpass  it. 
Prof.  Bailey  bequeathed  these  collections,  his  books  on  Botany 
and  Microscopy ;  his  Memoranda,  and  his  Scientific  Correspondence, 
to  the  Boston  Society  of  Natural  History. 

Bailey  may  well  be  styled  the  Ehrenberg  of  America,  who  has 
made  for  himself  a  place  by  the  side  of  the  most  eminent  micros- 
copists  and  algologists  of  the  Old  World. 

The  work  of  Ehrenberg  and  Bailey  has  been  taken  up  by 
others,  and  a  general  accumulation  of  interesting  material  has  been 
made.  The  study  of  Diatomacae  has  been  pursued  with  most 
fruitful  results. 

Prof.  H.  L.  Smith,  of  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  has  prepared  an  alpha- 
betical series  of  diatoms  on  glass  slides,  which  he  terms  "  Species 
Typicae  Diatomacearum,"  which  has  been  extended  to  several 
hundred — a  valuable  contribution. 


78 


Dr.  Henri  Van  Heurck  published  in  1880,  "  Synopsis  des 
Diatomees  de  Belgique,"  in  two  Faseicules,  or  parts. 

P.  T.  Clove  and  A.  Grunow  have  published  from  the  Stock- 
holm press  a  work  entitled,  "Beitrage  znr  Kessentreiss  der  Arctis- 
chen  Diatomeen,"  and  accompanying  it,  are  five  volumes  of  slides, 
numbering  in  all  276.  These  were  examined  by  M.  Grunow,  of 
Vienna,  who  is  a  leading  authority  in  this  department  of  micros- 
copy. These  diatoms  were  selected  with  great  care,  and  come  from 
all  parts  of  the  earth. 

Mr.  F.  Habershaw,  of  New  York,  is  publishing  an  exhaustive 
catalogue  of  this  family  of  Confervoid  Algae. 

Beside  the  use  of  dictotns  for  testing  the  resolving  power  of 
lenses,  Mr.  F.  A.  Nobert  of  Barth,  Pomerania,  the  late  well-known 
optical  physicist,  whose  rulings  of  fine  lines  on  glass  have,  for 
many  years  past,  been  regarded  as  marvels  of  dexterity  by  the 
scientific  world,  furnished  test-plates  for  the  microscope,  particularly 
the  plate  known  as  the  19-band  plate,  on  which  successive  bands 
of  lines  are  ruled  of  increasing  fineness  of  division  from  the  rate  of 
1,000  to  the  Paris  line  to  10,000,  equal  approximately  to  112,000 
to  the  English  inch.  The  frustule  of  Amphipleura  Pelucida  has 
92,700  to  92,900  stria  to  the  inch.  It  was  Nobert's  opinion  that  the 
last  four  bands  of  his  plate  could  not  be  resolved.  In  this  he  was 
mistaken,  for  Dr.  Woodward  of  Washington  not  only  resolved  the 
19th  band,  but  he  also  photographed  it.  It  was  this  photograph 
that  convinced  Nobert  of  his  error  in  fixing  a  limit  to  microscopic 
vision  at  the  16th  band. 

He  then  ruled  a  new  plate  of  twenty  bands  of  lines,  varying 
from  1,000  to  2,000  to  the  Paris  line.  The  lines  on  the  tenth  band 
in  this  latter  plate  correspond  in  processes  of  division  to  the  19th 
band  of  the  former  plate.  The  makers  of  objectives  have  some- 
thing to  stimulate  them  in  the  future  in  making  lenses  that  can 
resolve,  if  possible,  the  more  difficult  lines  of  his  new  plate.  He 
died  last  year,  without  revealing  the  secret  of  his  process  of  making 
and  adjusting  the  ruling  points.  It  is,  therefore,  conclusive  that 
the  limit  to  microscopic  vision  depends  upon  the  excellence  of  the 
objective  !    It  is  a  variable  factor  ! 

Eutherford  of  New  York,  Kogers  of  Boston,  and  Fasoldt  of 


79 


Albany,  have  done  fine  line  ruling  on  glass  and  metal,  but  I  have 
no  time  to  speak  of  them  as  I  would  like. 

John  James  Audubon  has  made  most  valuable  contributions  to 
the  study  of  Natural  History.  His  great  works  are  the  "Birds  of 
North  America,"  in  four  volumes,  and  the  "Quadrupeds  of  North 
America,"  in  three  volumes.  Cuvier  pronounced  the  former  to  be 
"  the  most  splendid  monuments  which  art  has  created  in  honor  of 
Ornithology."  Christopher  North  said  of  him,  "He  is  the  greatest 
artist  in  his  walk  that  ever  lived."  As  an  ornithologist  and 
ornithological  painter,  he  never  had  his  equal.  It  was  my  fortune, 
forty  years  ago,  to  meet  him  at  the  seances  of  the  Lyceum  of 
Natural  History  of  New  York.  He  was  the  most  remarkable 
man  of  my  acquaintance.  He  had  the  keenest  and  most 
penetrating  eyes  I  have  ever  seen. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  refer  to  the  scientific  labors  of  Louis  Agassiz. 
He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1846,  at  the  commencement  of 
the  great  scientific  awakening  in  this  country.  His  European 
reputation  had  preceded  him,  and  his  arrival  was  hailed  with  joy. 
He  was  looked  upon  as  the  greatest  authority  in  Paleontology. 
His  "  Fossil  Fishes  "  furnished  a  model  of  study  in  the  investiga- 
tion of  the  remains  of  extinct  fauna.  He  was  learned  in  Geology, 
Zoology  and  Embryology.  He  was  a  fascinating  lecturer  on 
these  subjects.  He  studied  the  coral  reefs  of  Florida,  the  fauna 
and  natural  history  of  Brazil,  S.  A.  He  founded  the  Museum 
of  Natural  History  in  Harvard  College,  and  left  as  a  monument 
of  his  industry  the  "  Fossil  Fishes,"  published  in  1834-44,  in 
five  vols.,  4to,  with  an  atlas  of  nearly  400  folio  plates,  in  which 
1,000  species  were  wholly  and  700  more  partially,  figured  and 
described.  He  was  the  founder  of  Fossil  Ichthyology.  In  1839, 
he  published  his  "  Natural  History  of  the  Freshwater  Fish  of 
Europe;"  also  "Descriptions  of  Echinoderms ;"  1847,  "Systeme 
Glaciere;"  "Nomenclator  Zoologicus,"  1  vol.,  4to;  "Bibliographical 
Zoological,"  3  vols.,  8vo ;  "Twelve  Lectures  on  Comparative 
Embryology,"  8vo;  "Methods  of  Study  in  Natural  History;" 
"Geological  Sketches;"  " Life  from  the  Egg — Twelve  Lectures;" 


80 


Contributions  to  the  "Natural  History  of  the  United  States,"  4 
vols.,  4to,  etc. 

In  1861,  he  received  the  Copley  Medal  for  his  original 
researches,  from  the  Royal  Society  of  London.  He  subsequently 
received  the  Monthyon  prize  and  the  Cuvier  prize  from  the 
French  Academy  ;  the  Wollaston  prize  from  the  Geological  Society 
of  London,  and  the  Medal  of  Merit  from  the  King  of  Prussia.  He 
was  elected  into  all  the  Scientific  Societies  of  Europe  and 
America, 

He  wrote  with  great  facility  in  Latin,  German,  French  and 
English.  He  was  an  uncompromising  defender  of  the  Classifica- 
tion of  the  Animal  Kingdom  by  Cuvier,  and  had  no  patience  with 
the  doctrine  of  Evolution.  In  writing  an  introduction  to  "  Nott 
and  Gliddon's  Types  of  Mankind,"  he  was  denounced  as  an  infidel 
by  the  clergy;  but  he  outlived  all  those  censures,  and  was  regarded 
by  the  clergy  as  the  defender  of  the  true  philosophy.  He  once 
spent  a  week  with  me  in  Buffalo,  and  complained  bitterly  of  his 
treatment,  declaring  that  he  was  not  an  infidel,  that  his  father  was 
an  orthodox  minister,  and  that  he  was  brought  up  to  believe  and 
did  believe  in  the  Christian  system  of  religion. 

I  wish  to  record  a  little  incident  which  occurred  at  that  time. 
Ex-President  Fillmore  was  dining  with  us  one  day,  when  he  said 
to  Prof.  Agassiz,  "I  wish  that  you  would  explain  to  me  what  I 
regard  as  one  of  the  marvelous  things  of  science.  I  have  read 
that  by  means  of  a  single  fossil  fish-scale,  you  actually  made  a 
drawing  of  the  fish  to  which  it  belonged,  giving  its  size  and  form, 
and  that  the  drawing  and  scale  were  deposited  in  the  British 
Museum ;  and  that  years  after,  the  fossil  skeleton  of  that  species  of 
fish  was  found  and  sent  to  the  British  Museum,  and  that  the 
drawing  could  not  have  been  a  more  exact  portrait  of  the  object 
than  the  one  you  made.  Please  tell  me  how  you  did  it."  "There 
is  nothing  easier,"  said  the  Professor.  "It  was  like  putting  into 
the  hands  of  a  skilled  engineer  or  architect,  a  single  stone  of  an 
arch,  and  asking  him  to  make  a  drawing  of  the  arch  to  which 
it  belonged.  The  angle  which  the  faces  of  the  stone  made  with 
each  other  would  determine  the  form  and  character  of  the  arch." 

Prof.  Agassiz  was  a  gentleman  of  pleasing  manners,  of  great 


si 


personal  beauty,  and  of  brilliant  conversational  powers.  He  was 
the  centre  and  charm  of  the  social  circle.  At  the  meetings  of  the 
Scientific  Association,  he  is  still  remembered  not  more  for  his 
great  learning  in  the  discussion  of  scientific  subjects,  than  for  his 
urbane  manners  and  brilliant  conversation  at  the  evening  social 
entertainments. 

Prof.  Agassiz  was  born  May  28,  1807,  in  the  Parish  of  Motier, 
Switzerland,  and  died  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  December  14,  1873, 
universally  lamented  and  honored. 

The  establishment  of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey  under 
Hassler  and  Bache  and  Peirce,  has  been  of  the  greatest  utility. 
Stations  for  tidal  observation  were  established  all  along  the  Atlantic 
Gulf  and  Pacific  coasts.  Self-registering  tide-gauges  have  been 
brought  into  extensive  use.  The  character  of  the  ocean  currents 
along  our  coasts  have  been  determined  and  their  causes  elicited. 
The  exploration  of  the  Gulf -stream  commenced  in  1844,  was 
vigorously  prosecuted,  its  temperature  at  the  several  depths  deter- 
mined, and  its  structure  and  laws  for  the  first  time  detected.  The 
cold  wall  of  water  between  the  Gulf-stream  and  the  shore,  as  also 
the  division  of  the  stream  proper  into  alternate  bands  of  warm  and 
cold  water,  were  discovered  and  mapped  out  for  the  benefit  of 
navigators  and  the  use  of  scientists. 

Capt.  M.  F.  Maury's  "Physical  Geography  of  the  Sea"  was  a 
valuable  contribution  to  the  navigation  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

The  first  reasonable  explanation  of  earthquakes  was  given  by 
Dr.  Thomas  Young,  by  suggesting  the  probability  that  earthquake 
motions  are  vibratory,  analagous  to  those  of  sound.  It  was  rather 
a  suggestion  than  an  explanation,  for  he  gave  no  demonstration. 
This  was  in  1807.  In  1846,  Robert  Mallet  communicated  to  the 
Royal  Irish  Academy  a  paper  "On  the  Dynamics  of  Earthquakes," 
in  which  is  found  this  passage  :  "  The  transit  of  a  wave  or  waves 
of  elastic  compression  in  any  direction,  from  vertically  upwards 
to  horizontally,  in  any  azimuth,  through  the  crust  and  surface  of 
the  earth,  from  any  centre  of  impulse  or  from  more  than  one,  and 
which  may  be  attended  with  sound  and  tidal  waves  dependent 


\ 


82 

upon  the  impulse  and  upon  circumstances  of  position  as  to  sea  and 
land." 

Thus  was  fixed  upon  an  immutable  basis  the  true  theory  of 
earthquakes.  It  was  incidentally  shown  in  that  paper  that  from 
the  observed  elements  of  the  movement  of  the  elastic  wave  of 
shock  at  certain  points — b}r  suitable  instruments — the  position  and 
depth  of  the  focus,  or  centre  of  impulse,  might  be  inferred. 

In  December,  1857,  occurred  the  great  Neapolitan  earthquake, 
which  desolated  a  large  portion  of  that  kingdom ;  and  an  oppor- 
tunity then  arose  for  practically  applying  to  the  problems  of  find- 
ing the  directions  of  earthquake  shock  at  a  given  point  through 
which  it  has  passed,  and  ultimately  the  position  and  depth  of 
focus.  Mallet  devised  apparatus  for  measuring  those  movements. 
Seismology  has  become  a  branch  of  exact  science.  An  Observa- 
tory has  been  established  on  Mt.  Vesuvius  by  the  Italian  Govern- 
ment, and  self-registering  instruments  are  used  under  the  direction 
of  Prof.  Luigi  Palmieri. 

This  seismograph  is  a  self-recording  instrument,  composed  of 
two  distinct  portions — one  for  record  of  horizontal,  or  rather  of 
what  are  called  undulatory  shocks ;  the  other  for  vertical  shocks. 
The  instrument  is  of  that  class  in  which  the  wave  movements  are 
indicated  by  the  displacement,  relative  or  absolute,  of  columns  of 
mercury  in  glass  tubes. 

The  chemist  has  made  great  achievements.  He  has  made  a 
new  nomenclature  for  his  science.  He  has  liquified  and  solidified 
carbonic  acid ;  and  what  is  more  wonderful  still,  he  has  liquified 
oxygen,  hydrogen  and  nitrogen !  Out  of  coal  tar,  he  has  obtained 
a  most  remarkable  series  of  an  aline  colors  (1860).  He  has  discov- 
ered a  method  of  preparing  a  new  explosive  agent,  nitro-glycerine. 
By  spectrum  analysis,  he  has  discovered  new  elementary  bodies. 
He  has  studied  the  molecular  condition  of  the  three  states  of 
matter,  the  gaseous,  the  liquid  and  the  solid.  He  has  discovered 
a  method  of  storing  electrical  energy  for  mechanical  purposes. 

One  of  the  most  laborious  and  successful  students  of  nature 
was  the  late  Prof.  John  W.  Draper,  whose  scientific  career  has 


83 


been  passed  in  our  midst.  A  profound  thinker,  an  elegant  writer, 
a  poet  as  well  as  a  philosopher,  he  did  much  to  advance  the  civiliza- 
tion of  the  nineteenth  century.  His  great  scientific  work  was  the 
u  Chemistry  of  Plants,"  published  in  1844,  an  important  treatise  on 
the  forces  which  produce  the  organization  of  plants.  He  also 
published  a  paper  upon  the  experimental  examination  of  the 
distribution  of  heat  and  of  the  chemical  force  in  the  spectrum  ;  also 
a  treatise  on  "Human  Physiology;"  also  "History  of  the 
Intellectual  Development  of  Europe  "  (1872),  in  which  he  under- 
took to  show  that  "  social  advancement  is  as  completely  under  the 
control  of  natural  law  as  is  bodily  growth,"  and  that  "the  life  of  an 
individual  is  a  miniature  of  the  life  of  a  nation."  "Thoughts  on 
the  Future  Civil  Policy  of  America,"  In  this  work,  he  emphasized 
the  influence  of  physical  conditions,  studied  the  effects  of  the 
groupings  of  so  many  nationalities,  and  concluded  that  America 
would  become  the  theatre  of  a  vast  conflict  of  ideas,  and  that  her 
safety  required  the  abolition  of  the  "  European  method  of  govern- 
ment through  the  morals  and  the  adoption  of  an  American  method 
of  government  through  the  intellect."  His  ruling  ideas  reappeared 
in  his  "  History  of  the  American  Civil  War  "  (1867-70) ;  "  History 
of  the  Conflict  between  Religion  and  Science  "  (1878).  In  1878 
appeared  his  "  Scientific  Memoirs ;  or,  Experiments  Contributing 
to  the  History  of  Radiant  Energy," 

His  researches  in  spectrum  analysis  and  in  the  endosmosis  and 
exosmosis  of  liquids  were  especially  interesting.  He  was  on  the 
verge  of  making  the  great  discovery  which  has  since  conferred 
scientific  immortality  on  the  German  scientist,  Kirchkoff,  the 
interpretation  of  the  dark  lines  in  the  solar  spectrum.  Draper  took 
the  first  image  of  the  human  face  by  the  photographic  art.  In 
1840,  he  made  the  discovery  of  the  curious  phenomena  of  voice 
fig  ares,  also  known  as  Moser's  images,  which  are  formed  when  a 
coin  is  placed  upon  a  polished  surface  of  glass,  marble  or  metal, 
and  remain  latent  until  brought  out  by  the  condensation  of  vapor 
by  breathing  on  it.    This  he  showed  me  in  1843. 

Dr.  John  Torrey  was  one  of  the  ablest  pioneers  of  American 
science.    April  16,  1873,  I  read  a  biographical  sketch  of  him 


84 


before  the  American  Ethnological  Society  of  New  York,  a  few 
extracts  from  which  I  will  introduce. 

John  Torrey,  M.  D.,  LL.D.,  was  born  in  New  York,  August  15, 
1796,  and  died  March  10,  1873.  He  was  distinguished  for  his 
great  purity  and  probity  of  character,  for  his  sympathy  with  every 
worthy  cause,  and  for  his  contributions  to  human  learning.  His 
life-pursuits  were  chemistry,  mineralogy  and  botany.  When  he 
began  his  scientific  career,  these  sciences  were  in  their  infancy.  It 
was  his  great  pleasure  to  observe  their  gradual  development,  and 
to  take  an  active  part  with  the  scientific  men  of  both  hemispheres 
in  raising  them  to  their  present  elevated  position. 

Graduating  in  Medicine  in  1818,  he  was  appointed,  six  years 
after,  Professor  of  Chemistry,  Geology  and  Mineralogy  in  the 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point.  In  1827,  he  was  called  to  the 
chair  of  Chemistry  in  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  in 
this  city,  which  he  filled  with  honor  to  the  college,  till  1855.  From 
1830  to  1853,  he  was  Professor  of  Chemistry  at  Nassau  Hall, 
Princeton,  and  was  associated  with  Joseph  Henry,  the  Alexanders, 
and  other  distinguished  men  of  that  Institution.  In  1853,  he  was 
appointed  by  the  government  Chief  Assay er  in  the  United  States 
Assay  Office  at  New  York.  He  was  also  appointed  Professor  of 
Botany  in  Columbia  College  in  this  city,  to  which  he  has  left  his 
immense  collection  of  plants,  which  is  probably  one  of  the  most 
valuable  in  the  world,  especially  in  American  botany. 

The  Annals  of  the  Lyceum  of  Natural  History  of  New  York,  of 
which  he  was  one  of  its  founders,  show  his  industry  in  his  early 
scientific  course.  These  are  the  titles  of  some  of  his  papers : 
"Description  of  some  new  and  rare  plants  from  the  Kocky 
Mountains,"  read  before  the  Lyceum,  September  22,  1823. 
Another  paper  on  the  same  subject,  read  December  11,  1826,  in 
which  year  he  was  elected  President  of  the  Lyceum.  "  Chemical 
Examination  of  some  Minerals,  chiefly  from  America,  by  Thomas 
Thompson,  notes  by  John  Torrey,"  read  November  5,  1827. 
"Discovery  of  Vauquelinite,  a  rare  ore  of  Chromium,"  read  April 
27,  1835.  "  Monograph  of  North  American  Cyperaceae,"  read 
August  8,  1836.  The  General  Index  of  Silliman's  Journal,  first 
series,  gives  a  catalogue  of  papers  from  his  pen,  some  of  which 


85 


are  as  follows:  "On  the  Condensation  of  Carbonic,  Sulphurous 
and  Chloro-chromic  Acid  Gases;"  "On  Staurotide ;"  "On 
Siderographite ;"  "Number  of  [ndigenous  Plants  of  New  York 
State;"  "On  West  Point  Minerals,"  &c,  &c. 

His  more  important  and  valuable  contributions  are  the  follow- 
ing :  "  Catalogue  of  Plants  to  be  found  in  a  radius  of  thirty  miles 
around  New  York,"  published  in  1819  ;  "  Flora  of  the  Northern 
and  Middle  States,"  1824  ;  "Flora  of  the  State  of  New  York,"  2 
vols.,  1843-44  ;  "  Appendix  to  Dr.  John  Lindley's  Introduction 
to  Botany,"  1831.  He  also  edited,  with  Dr.  Asa  Gray,  "The 
Flora  of  North  America."  His  more  important  and  valuable 
papers  are  to  be  found  in  the  Smithsonian  Contributions,  and  in 
the  various  government,  railway  and  other  explorations. 

Dr.  Torre  y  was  an  honored  member  of  this  Society.  By  his 
gentle  manner  and  pleasing  conversation,  he  endeared  himself  to  us 
all.  He  had  a  magnetism  which  drew  and  a  sympathy  which 
touched  all  hearts.  Associated  with  De  Witt  Clinton,  Albert 
Gallatin,  Samuel  L.  Mitchell  and  Gulian  C.  Yerplank  in  the  early 
history  of  the  Society,  he  has  indelibly  impressed  himself  upon 
the  scientific  thought  of  the  American  people.  He  has  opened 
mines  of  thought  and  influence  which  can  be  wrought  in  all  time 
to  come.    Let  us  cherish  his  memory  and  emulate  his  example. 

One  of  the  greatest  lights  of  this  century  is  Charles  Kobert 
Darwin.  I  cannot  hope  in  the  limited  space  alloted  me  to  do  more 
than  allude  to  the  great  work  of  this  foremost  man  of  science  of 
this  or  any  other  age.  Born,  February  12,  1809,  and  dying,  April 
19,  1882,  he  finished  his  renowned  scientific  career  in  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  periods  of  human  history.  It  is  difficult  to  know 
which  to  praise  most  in  this  great  biologist,  his  methods  or  their 
results.  He  was  eminent  in  observing  the  habits  of  plants  and 
animals  and  their  relations  to  each  other.  He  studied  the  variations 
of  species  under  domestication  and  in  a  state  of  nature.  He 
studied  hybridity  and  the  effects  of  hereditary  and  growth  force. 
He  did  little  in  comparative  anatomy  and  scarcely  anything  in 
embryology.  His  method  was  the  inductive.  He  relied  upon 
facts  and  not  upon  theoretical  speculations.    In  1859  appeared  his 


86 


great  work  on  "The  Origin  of  Species."  The  theory  may  be  thus 
stated  : 

Every  kind  of  animal  and  plant  tends  to  increase  in  numbers 
in  a  geometrical  progression. 

Every  kind  of  animal  and  plant  transmits  a  general  likeness, 
with  individual  differences,  to  its  offspring. 

Every  individual  may  present  minute  variations  of  any  kind 
and  in  any  direction. 

Past  time  has  been  practically  infinite. 

Every  individual  has  to  endure  a  very  severe  struggle  for 
existence,  owing  to  the  tendency  to  geometrical  increase  of  all 
kinds  of  animals  and  plants,  while  the  total  animal  and  vegetable 
population  (man  and  his  agency  excepted),  remains  almost 
stationary. 

Thus,  every  variation  of  a  kind  tending  to  save  the  life  of  the 
individual  possessing  it,  or  to  enable  it  more  surely  to  propagate 
its  kind,  will  in  the  long  run  be  preserved,  and  will  transmit  its 
favorable  peculiarity  to  some  of  its  offspring,  which  peculiarity  will 
thus  become  intensified  till  it  reaches  the  maximum  degree  of 
utility.  On  the  other  hand,  individuals  presenting  unfavorable 
peculiarities  will  be  destroyed.  The  action  of  this  law  of  Natural 
Selection  may  be  represented  by  the  expression,  "Survival  of  the 
fittest." 

This  conception  of  Mr.  Darwin's  is  perhaps  the  most  interesting 
theory,  in  relation  to  Natural  Science,  which  has  been  promulgated 
during  the  present  century.  In  a  remarkable  manner  it  groups 
together  a  vast  and  varied  series  of  biological  facts,  and  even 
paradoxes,  which  it  appears  more  or  less  clearly  to  explain.  By 
this  theory  of  "Natural  Selection,"  light  is  thrown  on  the  more 
singular  facts  relating  to  the  geographical  distribution  of  animals 
and  plants;  on  the  resemblance  between  the  past  and  present 
inhabitants  of  different  parts  of  the  earths  surface. 

His  second  great  work,  on  "  The  Descent  of  Man,"  appeared  in 
1871.  I  have  not  time  to  speak  of  this  work  as  I  would  like.  It 
produced  a  profound  sensation  among  scholars.  It  was  looked 
upon  as  positively  infidel  in  its  teaching,  and  was  condemned  by 
the  clergy.    It  presented  evolution  in  a  new  phase.  It  was  said  to 


87 


teach  that  man,  in  the  process  of  evolution,  came  directly  Prom  the 
monkey.  Mr.  Darwin  was  caricatured.  Pictures  of  him,  with 
caudel  attachment,  were  put  upon  the  market.  But  time  lias 
vindicated  the  reputation  of  the  great  scientist.  Prejudice  has 
yielded  to  admiration.  The  clergy  are  of  one  accord  in  their 
readiness  to  do  him  honor.  His  remains  were  buried  in  the  great 
mausoleum  of  Westminster  Abbey.  His  pall-bearers  were,  James 
R  Lowell,  the  Duke  of  Argyle,  Lord  Derby,  Professor  Huxley, 
Sir  Joseph  Hooker,  Sir  John  Lubbock,  Alfred  R  Wallace,  Mr. 
Spottiswood,  President  of  the  Royal  Society,  and  Canon  Farrar. 

The  English  Church  has  shown  great  wisdom  in  thus  honor- 
ing this  distinguished  scientist.  By  giving  his  bones  a  resting 
place  in  the  most  renowned  of  English  sepulchres,  they  have 
removed  a  strong  and  growing  prejudice  from  the  minds  of  that 
large  and  influential  class  of  scientific  men  who  are  doubtless  the 
leading  thinkers  and  workers  of  this  generation.  It  was  politic  to 
recognize  this  class  of  men.  The  church  needs  the  vitalizing 
forces  of  thought  and  action  that  are  outside  of  itself,  to  redeem 
it  from  a  species  of  monasticism  which  is  sure  to  spring  up  in  a 
life  of  seclusiveness  from  the  world.  By  this  act  of  the  church, 
the  interests  of  science  and  religion  are  conserved.  The  priest  at 
the  altar  and  the  scientist  in  his  painstaking  investigations,  alike 
honor  the  cause  of  truth. 

This  was  once  true  of  the  Roman  Catholic  Church.  If  any 
man  became  distinguished  in  science,  arts  or  letters,  he  was 
canonized  at  death,  and  admitted  into  fellowship  with  the  saints. 
So  long  as  this  was  done  the  church  maintained  its  supremacy ; 
but  when  it  became  non-sympathetic  and  persecuting,  it  lost  its 
power. 

The  English  Medical  Press  and  Circular  says :  "  There  is  but 
one  appropriate  resting-place  for  the  greatest  naturalist  in  the 
world — the  founder  of  the  modern  school  of  biology,  the  most 
illustrious  scientific  savant  of  the  century — and  that  place  is 
amidst  those  who  are,  by  right,  regarded  as  the  creators  of  our 
intellectual  superiority — in  the  national  fane  at  Westminster." 

"He  was,"  said  Canon  Prothero,  at  Westminster  Abbey,  "the 
greatest  man  of  science  of  his  day  ;  but  was  so  entirely  a  stranger  to 


88 


intellectual  pride  and  arrogance,  that  he  stated,  with  the  utmost 
modesty,  opinions,  of  the  truth  of  which  he  was  himself  con- 
vinced, but  which,  he  was  aware,  could  not  be  universally 
agreeable  and  acceptable.  Surely,  in  such  a  man,  lived  that 
charity  which  is  the  very  essence  of  the  true  spirit  of  Christ." 

Canon  Liddon,  in  his  sermon  at  St  Paul's,  observed,  "that 
when  Professor  Darwin's  books  on  the  Origin  of  Species  and  on 
the  Descent  of  Man  appeared,  they  were  largely  regarded  by 
religious  men  as  containing  a  theory  necessarily  hostile  to  religion. 
A  closer  study  had  greatly  modified  any  such  impression.  It  is 
sure  that,  whether  the  creative  activity  of  God  is  manifested 
through  catastrophes,  as  the  phrase  goes,  or  in  progressive  evolu- 
tion, it  is  still  His  creative  activity,  and  the  really  great  questions 
beyond  remain  untouched.  The  evolutionary  process,  supposing 
it  to  exist,  must  have  had  a  beginning:  who  began  it?  It  must 
have  had  material  to  work  with  :  who  furnished  it?  It  is  itself  a 
law  or  system  of  laws :  who  enacted  them  ?  Even  supposing 
that  the  theory  represents  absolute  truth,  and  is  not  merely  a 
provisional  way  of  looking  at  things  incidental  to  the  present 
state  of  knowledge,  these  great  questions  are  just  as  little  to  be 
decided  by  physical  science  now  as  they  were  when  Moses  wrote 
the  Pentateuch ;  but  there  are  apparently  three  important  gaps  in 
the  evolutionary  sequence,  which  it  is  well  to  bear  in  mind. 
There  is  the  great  gap  between  the  highest  animal  instinct  and 
the  reflective  self- measuring,  self -analyzing  thought  of  man. 
There  is  the  greater  gap  between  life  and  the  most  organized 
matter.  There  is  the  greatest  gap  of  all  between  matter  and 
nothing.  At  these  three  points,  as  far  as  we  can  see,  the  Creative 
Will  must  have  intervened  otherwise  than  by  the  way  of  evolu- 
tion out  of  existing  materials — to  create  mind,  to  create  life,  to 
create  matter.  But,  beyond  all  question,  it  is  our  business  to 
respect  in  science,  as  in  other  things,  every  clearly  ascertained 
report  of  the  senses ;  for  every  such  report  represents  a  fact,  and 
a  fact  is  sacred  as  having  its  place  in  the  Temple  of  Universal 
Truth." 

The  Observer  says  :  "  We  may  be  asked,  of  course,  what  it  is, 
after  all,  that  Darwin  has  done  ?    He  has  not  invented  an  electric 


89 


light,  or  a  vacuum  break,  or  thrown  a  viaduct  across  a  valley,  or 
tunnelled  under  a  strait,  or  discovered  some  marvellous  method 
by  which  to  convert  brewers'  refuse  into  bread.  He  has  done 
nothing  for  which  he  could  have  taken  out  a  patent,  or  have 
started  a  joint  stock  company  with  limited  liability.  But  he  has 
lived  from  the  first  in  an  air  higher  than  that  where  money  is 
made,  and  professional  chairs  are  given  away.  And  living  thus, 
purely,  simply  and  honestly,  he  has  left  his  mark  indelibly  upon 
human  thought;  the  history  of  human  thought  being,  for  each 
and  for  all  of  us,  the  history  of  the  universe.  Peerages  and 
decorations  are  conferred  upon  men  who  successfully  conduct 
negotiations  in  the  sugar  trade,  or  wage  war,  with  the  Martini- 
Henry  rifle,  against  naked  savages.  Darwin  enjoyed  no  such 
distinction.  Certainly  he  never  coveted  it.  He  was  never  made: 
commissioner  of  anything.  His  whole  life  was  one  continual 
worship  of  truth  for  its  own  sake.  He  was  incapable  of  jealousy, 
ambition  or  self-seeking,  and — though  he  himself  knew  it  not — 
the  moral  lesson  of  his  life  is  perliaps  even  more  valuable  than  is  the 
grand  discovery  which  he  has  stamped  on  the  world's  history." 

Sir.  Charles  Lyell,  in  his  Antiquity  of  Man,  quotes  a  saying 
of  Professor  Agassiz,  that  whenever  a  new  and  striking  fact  is 
brought  to  light  in  science,  people  first  say  "it  is  not  true,"  then 
it  is  contrary  to  religion,  and  lastly,  "that  everybody  knew  it 
before."  If  a  sermon  delivered  in  St.  Paul's  by  Canon  Liddon 
may  be  accepted  as  evidence,  the  theory  of  evolution  has  passed 
through  the  two  first  stages  of  Agassiz'  process,  and  is  already  on 
its  way  to  the  third.  From  the  extracts  from  his  sermon,  it  will 
be  seen  that  the  eloquent  Canon  accepts  Darwinian  theories  only 
with  reservations.  His  remarkable  words  only  need  to  be  carried 
to  their  legitimate  issue,  to  indicate  the  basis  on  which  the  long- 
looked-for  reconciliation  between  science  and  religion  will  be 
possible. 

The  following  extracts  from  Continental  papers  may  not  be  out 
of  place : 

The  Gaulois  remarks  "  that  Darwin  will  remain  one  of 
the  greatest  glories  of  science.  No  other  man  has,  during  the 
second  half  of  this  century,  exercised  a  more  decisive  and  fruitful 


90 


influence  on  the  progress  of  natural  science.  No  one  else  has  so 
much  honored  science  by  the  nobility  of  his  character,  by  the- 
primitive  simplicity  of  his  life  and  by  his  deep  and  sincere  love  of 
truth." 

The  France  observes  :  "  Darwin's  work  has  not  been  merely 
the  exposition  of  a  system  ;  but,  as  it  were,  the  production  of  an 
epic — the  greatest  power  of  the  genesis  of  the  universe,  one  of  the 
grandest  that  ever  proceeded  from  a  human  brain — an  epic 
magnificent  in  its  proportions,  logical  in  its  deductions  and  superb 
in  its  form.  Darwin  deserves  not  only  a  place  by  the  side  of 
Leibnitz,  Bacon,  or  Decartes.  but  is  worthy  to  rank  with  Homer." 

The  Cologne  Gazette  says:  "He  was  a  man  of  science,  who 
made  a  mark  upon  his  times  in  a  manner  unparalleled  by  any  of 
his  contemporaries.  He  compelled  every  branch  of  science  to 
acknowledge  his  revolutionizing  discoveries.  The  completion  of 
his  gigantic  system  will  give  abundant  occupation  to  the  remotest 
generations  ;  but  the  memory  of  the  founder  of  this  prodigious 
scientific  structure  will  remain  imperishable  to  all  time." 

We  cannot  more  fitly  close  this  sketch  than  by  quoting  from  an 
article  in  Nature,  by  Prof.  Huxley  : 

"In  France,  in  Germany,  in  Austro-Hungary,  in  Italy,  in  the 
United  States,  writers  of  all  shades  of  opinion,  for  once  unanimous, 
have  paid  a  willing  tribute  to  the  worth  of  our  great  countryman, 
ignored  in  life  by  the  official  representatives  of  the  kingdom,  but 
laid  in  death  among  his  peers  in  Westminster  Abbey  by  the  will 
of  the  nation. 

"It  is  no  secret  that,  outside  that  domestic  group,  there  are 
many  to  whom  Mr.  Darwin's  death  is  a  wholly  irreparable  loss. 
And  this  not  merely  because  of  his  wonderfully  genial,  simple  and 
generous  nature,  his  cheerful  and  animated  conversation  and  the 
infinite  variety  and  accuracy  of  his  information,  but  because  the 
more  one  knew  of  him  the  more  he  seemed  the  incorporated  ideal 
of  a  man  of  science.  Acute  as  were  his  reasoning  powers,  vast  as 
was  his  knowledge,  marvelous  as  was  his  tenacious  industry,  under 
physical  difficulties  which  would  have  converted  nine  men  out  of 
ten  into  aimless  invalids,  it  was  not  these  qualities,  great  as  they 
were,  which  impressed  those  who  were  admitted  to  his  intimacy 


5H 


with  involuntary  veneration,  but  a  certain  intense  and  almost 
passionate  honesty,  by  which  all  his  thoughts  and  actions  were 
irradiated  as  by  a  central  fire. 

"  It  was  this  rarest  and  greatest  of  endowments  which  kept  his 
vivid  imagination  and  great  speculative  powers  within  due  bounds ; 
which  compelled  him  to  undertake  the  prodigious  labors  of  original 
investigation  of  reading,  upon  which  his  published  works  are 
based;  which  made  him  accept  criticisms  and  suggestions  from 
anybody  and  everybody,  not  onty  without  impatience,  but  with 
expressions  of  gratitude  sometimes  almost  comically  in  excess  of 
their  value  ;  which  led  him  to  allow  neither  himself  nor  others  to 
be  deceived  by  phrases,  and  to  spare  neither  time  nor  pains  in 
order  to  obtain  clear  and  distinct  ideas  upon  every  topic  with  which 
he  occupied  himself. 

"  One  could  not  converse  with  Darwin  without  being  reminded 
of  Socrates.  There  was  the  same  desire  to  find  someone  wiser 
than  himself ;  the  same  belief  in  the  sovereignty  of  reason ;  the 
same  ready  humor ;  the  same  sympathetic  interest  in  all  the  ways 
and  works  of  men.  But  instead  of  turning  away  from  the 
problems  of  nature  as  hopelessly  insoluble,  our  modern  philosopher 
devoted  his  whole  life  to  attacking  them  in  the  spirit  of  Heraclitus 
and  of  Democritus,  with  results  which  are  as  the  substance  of 
which  their  speculations  were  anticipating  shadows. 

"  None  have  fought  better  and  none  have  been  more  fortunate 
than  Charles  Darwin.  He  found  a  great  truth,  trodden  under  foot, 
reviled  by  bigots  and  ridiculed  by  all  the  world ;  he  lived  long 
enough  to  see  it,  chiefly  by  his  own  efforts,  inseparably  incorporated 
with  the  common  thoughts  of  men,  aud  only  hated  and  feared  by 
those  who  would  ridicule,  but  dare  not.  What  shall  a  man  desire 
more  than  this  ?  Once  more  the  image  of  Socrates  rises  unbidden, 
and  the  noble  peroration  of  the  Apology  rings  in  our  ears  as  if  it 
were  Charles  Darwin's  farewell :  '  The  hour  of  departure  has  come, 
and  we  go  our  ways — I  to  die  and  you  to  live.  Which  is  the 
better,  God  only  knows.' 

The  following  is  the  translation  of  a  letter  written  by  the  late 
Charles  Darwin  in  answer  to  an  inquiry  from  a  young  student  at 


92 


Jena,  in  whom  the  study  of  Darwin's  books  had  raised  religious 
doubts : 

"  Sir — I  am  very  busy,  and  am  an  old  man  in  delicate  health, 
and  have  not  time  to  answer  your  questions  fully,  even  assuming 
that  they  are  capable  of  being  answered  at  all.  Science  and 
Christ  have  nothing  to  do  with  each  other,  except  in  as  far  as  the 
habit  of  scientific  investigation  makes  a  man  cautious  about 
accepting  any  proofs.  As  far  as  I  am  concerned,  I  do  not  believe 
that  any  revelation  has  ever  been  made.  With  regard  to  a  future 
life,  every  one  must  draw  his  own  conclusions  from  vague  and 
contradictory  probabilities.  Wishing  you  well,  I  remain,  your 
obedient  servant, 

k'Down,  June  5th,  1879.  Charles  Darwin." 

Mr.  Darwin  was  not  regarded  as  a  Christian ;  but  he  had  the 
greatest  respect  for  all  that  was  good  in  Christianity,  and  was 
great  enough  to  acknowledge  it.  This  is  the  way  in  which  he 
answered  some  shallow  critics  of  foreign  missionaries:  "They 
forget,  or  will  no.t  remember,  that  human  sacrifices,  and  the  power 
of  an  idolatrous  priesthood ;  a  system  of  profligacy  unparalleled 
in  am^  other  part  of  the  world;  infanticide,  a  consequence  of  that 
system ;  bloody  wars,  where  the  conquerors  spared  neither  women 
nor  children — that  all  these  have  been  abolished;  and  that  dis- 
honesty, intemperance  and  licentiousness  have  been  greatly 
reduced  by  the  introduction  of  Christianity.  In  a  voyager  to 
forget  these  things  is  base  ingratitude ;  for  should  he  chance  to  be 
at  the  point  of  shipwreck  on  some  unknown  coast,  he  will  most 
devoutly  pray  that  the  lesson  of  the  missionary  may  have 
extended  thus  far." 

It  will  perhaps  be  objected  that  the  theory  of  descent  has 
already  been  sufficiently  established  by  Darwin.  It  is  true  that 
his  newly-discovered  principle  of  selection  is  of  the  very  greatest 
importance,  since  it  solves  the  riddle  as  to  how  that  which  is 
useful  can  arise  in  a  purely  mechanical  way.  Nor  can  the  trans- 
forming influence  of  direct  action,  as  upheld  by  Lamarck,  be 
called  in  question,  although  its  extent  cannot  as  yet  be  estimated 
with  any  certainty.    The  secondary  modifications  which  Darwin 


93 


regards  as  the  consequence  of  a  change  in  some  other  organ,  must 
also  be  conceded.  But  arc  these  three  factors  actually  competent 
to  explain  the  complete  transformation  of  one  species  into  another? 
Can  they  transform  more  than  single  characters  or  groups  of 
characters?  Can  we  consider  them  as  the  sole  causes  of  the 
regular  phenomena  of  the  development  of  the  races  of  animals 
and  plants?  Is  there  not  perhaps  an  unknown  force  underlying 
these  numberless  developmental  series  as  the  true  motor  power — 
a  "developmental  force,"  urging  species  to  vary  in  certain  direc- 
tions, and  thus  calling  into  existence  the  chief  types  and  subtypes 
of  the  animal  and  vegetable  kingdoms? 

The  theory  of  selection  by  no  means  leads,  as  is  always 
assumed,  to  the  denial  of  a  teleological  Universal  Cause  and  to 
materialism.  Mechanism  and  teleology  do  not  exclude  one 
another ;  they  are  rather  in  mutual  agreement.  Without  teleology 
there  could  be  no  mechanism,  but  only  a  confusion  of  crude 
forces ;  and  without  mechanism  there  could  be  no  teleology,  for 
how  could  the  latter  otherwise  effect  its  purpose  ? 

Von  Hartmann  correctly  says :  "  The  most  complete  mechanism 
conceivable  is  likewise  the  most  completely  conceivable  teleology." 
We  may  thus  represent  the  phenomenal  universe  as  such  a  com- 
pletely conceivable  mechanism.  With  this  conception  vanish  all 
apprehensions  that  the  new  views  would  cause  man  to  lose  the 
best  he  possesses — morality  and  purely  human  spiritual  culture. 

Let  us  take  our  stand  boldly  on  the  ground  of  new  knowledge 
and  accept  the  direct  consequences  thereof,  and  we  shall  not  be 
obliged  to  give  up  either  morality  or  the  comforting  conviction  of 
being  part  of  an  harmonious  world,  as  a  necessary  member  capable 
of  development  and  perfection. 

Any  other  mode  of  interference  b}r  a  directive  teleolgical  power 
in  the  processes  of  the  universe  than  by  the  appointment  of  the 
forces  producing  them,  is,  however,  at  least  to  the  naturalist, 
inadmissible.  We  are  still  far  removed  from  completely  under- 
standing the  mechanism  by  means  of  which  the  organic  world  is 
evoked ;  we  still  find  ourselves  at  the  very  beginning  of 
knowledge. 


94 


Astronomical  science  lias  been  cultivated  with  remarkable 
success.  The  Mechanique  Celeste,  by  Pierre  Simon  Laplace,  was 
published  in  Paris  (complete  edition)  in  1843.  The  object  of  the 
author  was  to  reduce  all  the  known  phenomena  of  the  system  of 
the  world  to  the  law  of  gravity,  by  strict  mathematical  principles, 
and  to  complete  the  investigations  of  the  motions  of  the  planets, 
satellites  and  comets  begun  by  Newton  in  his  Principia.  This  he 
accomplished  in  a  manner  deserving  the  highest  praise  for  its 
symmetry  and  completeness.  A  work  which  will  be  classed  with 
the  Almagest  of  Ptolomy,  the  DeRevolutionibus  Orbium  Cceles- 
tium  of  Copernicus  and  the  Principia  of  Newton — the  greatest 
works  on  Astronomy.  But  Laplace  was  indebted  to  Leibnitz  for 
the  instrument  by  means  of  which  he  was  able  to  accomplish  his 
immortal  work.  I  refer  to  the  Differential  and  Integral  Calculus 
of  Godfrey  W.  Leibnitz,  which  was  published  in  the  "Leipsic 
Acts,"  third  volume,  in  1684,  under  the  following  title:  "Nova 
Methodus  Pro  Maximis  et  Minimis,  itemque  tangentibus,  quae 
nec  fractas,  nec  irrationales  quantitales  moratur  et  singulare  pro 
illis  calculi  genus,  per  Gr.  Gr.  L."  In  the  brief  space  of  six  and  a 
half  pages  is  condensed  this  mighty  instrument  of  mathematical 
analysis. 

Nathaniel  Bowditch,  of  Boston,  translated  part  of  the  Mechan- 
ique Celeste  with  a  commentary,  in  four  volumes — the  last  volume, 
in  1839.  Additions  to  the  original  are  so  extensive  and  important 
as  to  entitle  him  to  be  ranked  in  the  first  class  of  writers  on  the 
higher  mathematics. 

M.  Legendre,  in  1832,  wrote  Bowditch :  "  Your  work  is  not 
merely  a  translation  with  a  commentary;  I  regard  it  as  a  new 
edition,  augmented  and  improved,  and  such  a  one  as  might  have 
come  from  the  hands  of  the  author  himself."  M.  Bessel  wrote  in 
1836 :  "  Through  your  labors  on  the  Mechanism  of  the  Heavens, 
La  Place's  work  is  brought  down  to  our  own  time,  as  you  add  to 
it  the  studies  of  geometricians  since  its  first  appearance."  Lacroix, 
Puissant,  Babbage  and  others  wrote  similar  letters  of  commen- 
dation. 

Benjamin  Peirce,  late  professor  in  Harvard  College,  was  a 
prolific  writer  on  mathematics.    The  most  distinguished  mathe- 


95. 


matical  school  in  this  or  any  other  country,  is  now  in  session 
at  John's  Hopkins  College,  Baltimore,  under  the  direction  of 
J.  J.  Sylvester,  aided  by  Prof.  Arthur  Caley,  of  Cambridge, 
England,  two  of  the  greatest  living  mathematicians.  In  1858, 
was  published  Sir  William  Kowan  Hamilton's  New  Mathematical 
Method,  or  Calculus  of  Quaternions. 

To  the  Academy  of  Sciences  at  Paris  we  are  indebted  for 
magnificent  editions  of  the  complete  works  of  Laplace  and  of 
Lagrange.  The  Government  of  Norway  has  given  us  the 
celebrated  Memoirs  of  Abel;  the  Academy  of  Gcettengen  the 
works  of  Gauss  and  Biemann ;  the  Academy  of  Berlin,  editions 
of  the  works  of  Steiner  and  Jacobi ;  in  England,  the  collected 
mathematical  works  of  Clifford,  MacCullagh,  Green,  Gregory, 
Leslie  Ellis  and  of  Macquorn  Eankine  ;  and  in  our  own  country, 
of  Benjamin  Peirce.  The  results  of  mathematical  research  are 
usually  found  in  the  Transactions  of  Societies,  or  in  periodicals 
specially  devoted  to  mathematical  writings. 

Speculation  in  pure  mathematics  resembles  metaphysical  spec- 
ulation in  this,  that  the  whole  universe  of  thought  to  which  it 
refers  is  so  closely  interdependent,  that  a  clear-sighted  and  powerful 
thinker  cannot  fix  his  mental  vision  (however  keen  his  effort  after 
concentration  may  be)  on  any  one  region  in  it,  without  catching 
glimpses  of  something  that  lies  beyond,  and  without  discovering, 
more  or  less  dimly,  new  relations  to  be  examined,  and  new  lines 
of  research,  which  may  perhaps  have  no  immediate  relevancy  to 
the  particular  enquiry  in  which  he  is  engaged.  And  these 
glimpses,  if  recorded,  or  even  if  only  half  unconsciously  indicated,, 
in  the  account  which  he  afterwards  gives  of  his  work,  are  not 
unlikely  to  suggest  a  wholly  new  departure  to  some  kindred  spirit 
in  a  future  time. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  triumphs  of  mathematical  analysis 
was  achieved  by  two  young  men  in  1845  and  1846 — John  Couch 
Adams  of  England  and  Urbain  Jean  I.  Le  Yerrier  of  France. 
They  formed  a  design  of  investigating  the  irregularities  in  the 
motion  of  Uranus,  in  order  to  find  out  whether  they  might  be 
attributed  to  the  action  of  some  unknown  planet,  and  thence, 
if  possible,  to  determine  approximately  the  elements  of  its  orbit. 


96 


The  extreme  difficulty  of  the  problem  majr  to  some  extent  be 
appreciated  when  we  remember  -that  it  is  the  inverse  of  the 
ordinary  problem  of  perturbations.  Given  the  positions  and 
movements  of  the  planets,  the  great  mathematicians  of  the  last 
century  had  found  it  sufficiently  difficult  to  calculate  the  pertur- 
bations ;  but  given  the  perturbations,  it  was  a  far  harder  problem 
to  rind  the  mass,  the  mean  distance  of  the  perturbing  body,  together 
with  the  eccentricity  and  plane  of  its  orbit,  the  direction  of  its  line 
of  apses  and  the  position,  at  a  particular  moment,  of  the  planet  in 
its  orbit.  Mr.  Adams'  investigation  was  based  on  the  observed  error 
in  longitude  of  the  motion  of  Uranus.  M.  Le  Terrier's,  on  the 
theory  of  Uranus,  in  which  its  perturbations  were  explained  by 
the  attraction  of  a  planet  whose  motion  and  mass  were  determined 
to  be  the  same  as  those  found  by  Mr.  Adams. 

The  problem  was  the  solution  of  a  series  of  simultaneous 
partial  differential  equations  with  nine  unknown  quantities, 
namely,  the  mass,  mean  distance,  eccentricity,  epoch,  and  perihelion 
longitude  of  the  working  planet,  and  the  corrections  to  the  latter 
four  elements  of  Uranus.  The  smallness  of  the  perturbations  in 
latitude  showed  that  the  inclinations  and  nodes  might  be  neg- 
lected, or,  otherwise,  the  number  of  unknown  quantities  would 
have  been  thirteen.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  impossibility  of 
solving  such  a  problem  by  any  ordinary  mathematical  methods 
and  even  the  Planetary  Theory,  evolved  by  the  genius  of  Laplace 
and  Lagrange,  failed  in  application  in  consequence  of  the  inverse 
character  of  the  problem. 

These  astronomers  were  unacquainted  with  each  other  and 
knew  nothing  of  each  other's  work.  Adams  was  the  first  to 
complete  his  computations,  which  was  in  September,  1845.  These 
were  sent  to  the  Greenwich  Observatory  for  verification ;  but, 
unfortunate!  v  for  Mr.  Adams,  the  Astronomer  Royal  requested  him 
to  make  some  further  calculations,  with  a  view  of  confirming  his 
results.  While  he  was  engaged  on  that,  M.  Le  Verrier  published 
the  results  of  his  calculations  on  the  1st  of  June,  1846.  As  they 
agreed  exactly  with  those  of  Mr.  Adams,  Prof.  Airy  wrote  to  Prof. 
Challis,  of  the  Cambridge  Observatory,  requesting  him  to  make  a 
careful  search  with  the  great  Northumberland  refractor.    But  it 


97 


was  too  late.  M.  La  Verrier  had  written  to  bis  friend  Dr.  Gatle 
of  Berlin,  to  direct  his  telesoope  to  that  point  in  the  heavens  which 
his  computations  had  suggested  as  the  probable  locality  of  his 
hypothetical  planet.  The  request  was  complied  with,  and  on  the 
23d  of  September.  1846.  a  star  of  the  eighth  magnitude  was 
discovered,  which  was  not  found  on  any  accurate  map  of  the 
heavens,  including  all  the  stars  of  that  magnitude.  The  next 
evening,  the  telescope  was  again  directed  to  the  star  in  question, 
and  it  had  swerved  from  its  former  position,  in  a  direction  and 
with  a  velocity  almost  entirely  accordant  with  the  theory  of  the 
French  geometor.    The  planet  Neptune  was  found ! 

The  Council  of  the  Royal  Society  doubted  whether  their  annual 
medal  was  due  to  Mr.  Adams  or  to  M.  Le  Verrier ;  but,  ultimatety* 
as  there  was  no  precedent  in  favor  of  bestowing  a  double  medal, 
they  decided  on  conferring  a  testimonial  on  each  claimant  instead. 
The  testimonial  reads  :  "  For  his  researches  in  the  problem  of 
inverse  perturbations,  leading  to  the  discovery  of  Neptune," 

This  was  an  injustice  to  Le  Verrier,  who  was  fairly  entitled  to 
the  medal,  which,  in  every  case,  is  determined  by  priority  of 
publication. 

In  connection  with  the  labors  of  these  astronomers  in  relation 
to  Neptune,  it  is  proper  that  I  call  attention  to  Sears  C.  Walker, 
formerly  of  the  United  States  Coast  Survey,  who  determined  the 
orbit  of  Neptune,  confirming  the  identity  of  Neptune  and  the  star 
of  Lalande  by  an  examination  of  Lalande's  manuscripts,  in  Paris. 
Benjamin  Peirce  made  a  searching  investigation  of  the  theory  and 
redetermination  of  the  perturbations  which  gave  Walker  the  means 
of  obtaining  an  orbit  yet  more  rigorously  exact.  And  thus  by  the 
joint  labors  of  these  American  astronomers,  the  theory  of  Neptune 
was  placed,  within  eighteen  months  after  the  discovery  of  the 
planet,  on  a  sure  and  accurate  basis,  which  completes'the  verification 
of  the  true  theory  of  physical  astronomy,  and  is  an  addition  to  our 
knowledge  of  formal  astronomy.  To  this  branch  of  the  subject, 
we  have  only  to  add  the  discovery  of  the  fifth  satellite  of  Saturn, 
raising  the  wdiole  number  to  eight,  simultaneously  made  by  Prof. 
Bond  and  Mr.  Lassell,  on  the  19th  of  September,  1848  ;  the"  dis- 
covery of  two  more  satellites  to  Uranus,  by  Lassell  in  1-847;  the 


98 


discovery  of  a  satellite  to  Neptune,  by  Lassell,  in  October,  1846 ; 
the  late  discovery  of  two  satellites  to  Mars,  by  Prof.  Asaph  Hall, 
at  Washington,  in  August,  1877. 

So  that  round  most  of  the  planets  revolve  satellites  in  nearly 
circular  orbits.  Of  these  the  earth  has  one ;  Mars  two  ;  Jupiter 
four ;  Saturn  eight  besides  a  ring ;  Uranus  certainly  four ;  and 
Neptune  certainly  one. 

The  logical  consequence  of  the  law  of  gravitation  is,  that  the 
planets  and  satellites  ought  to  move  in  ellipses,  with  the  primary 
in  a  focus  of  each,  according  to  Kepler's  laws,  and  perturb  one 
another  in  a  certain  way,  all  of  which  agrees  with  observation. 
But  what  its  plane  should  be,  which  way  the  planet  should  move 
in  its  orbit ;  of  these  the  law  of  gravitation  tells  us  nothing.  These 
all  depend  in  each  case  on  the  way  the  body  was  originally  started 
in  its  course. 

Now,  in  all  the  bodies  of  the  solar  system,  with  the  exception 
of  the  satellites  of  Uranus  and  Neptune,  we  observe  a  very  re- 
markable similarity  in  these  respects.  The  orbits  of  all  the  planets 
and  satellites  are  very  nearly  circles,  and  nearly  in  the  same  plane. 
All  the  planets  and  satellites  rotate  on  their  axes  and  revolve  in 
the  same  direction.  This  seems  to  point  to  some  common  cause 
of  their  original  starting  on  their  courses.  Laplace  calculated 
that  the  odds  against  this  being  accidental — against,  that  is,  each 
body  having  had  an  entirely  isolated  and  separate  physical  cause 
of  its  original  motion — was  many  trillions  to  one.  It  is,  therefore, 
practically  certain  that  there  must  be  some  one  physical  cause  of 
the  original  motions  of  all  the  bodies  of  the  solar  system ;  and 
Physical  Astronomy  is  not  complete  until  we  have  discovered 
what  that  cause  is. 

I  present  another  astronomical  problem  which  for  years 
interested  Herschel — the  determination  of  the  great  centre  of  our 
siderial  stratum.  By  examining  the  old  charts,  he  found  the  stars 
not  fixed,  but  perpetually  changing  their  places,  and  show,  as  the 
change  may  be,  the  accuracy  with  which  modern  instruments 
measure  minute  distances,  enables  the  astronomer  not  only  to 
ascertain  the  rate  of  motion,  but  the  actual  direction  in  which  the 
object  is  moving.    When  Herschel  found  these  changes  going  on, 


the  idea  occurred  to  him  that  probably  the  change  was  parallactic, 
and  that  the  sun,  with  all  its  planets  and  comets,  was  speeding 
through  space.  He  commenced  his  examinations  to  see  if  this 
supposition  was  correct,  when  he  arrived  at  a  result,  the  most 
astonishing  that  was  ever  unfolded  by  the  mind  of  man.  He 
found  that,  if  he  was  only  permitted  to  accept  the  hypothesis  that 
the  sun  was  sweeping  toward  a  certain  point  in  the  constellation 
Hercules,  he  could  account  for  a  large  proportion  of  the  changes  of 
the  fixed  stars  all  through  the  heavens.  But  when  other  astrono- 
mers gave  their  attention  to  this  subject  and  found  it  too  difficult 
for  examination,  the  theory  seemed  to  die  away,  doubts  were  east 
upon  its  results,  and  astronomers  finally  rejected  it.  At  length,  it 
was  taken  up  in  Russia,  Argelander  undertook  the  solution  of 
this  problem.  The  grand  object  was  this — to  show  how  it  was 
that  the  grand  point  in  the  heavens,  toward  which  the  sun  is 
moving,  was  determined. 

Argelander  began  his  investigations  by  the  observation  of  five 
hundred  stars,  selected  in  different  points  in  the  heavens,  which  he 
compared  with  the  observations  of  the  oldest  astronomers.  Let  us 
suppose,  for  the  sake  of  illustration,  that  he  finds  the  star  selected 
for  observation,  to-night,  was  located  in  a  certain  point  in  the 
heavens  one  hundred  years  previous  to  his  time;  and  that,  at  the 
time  he  makes  his  observation,  it  is  located  here  in  another  point 
in  the  heavens.  Now,  the  distance  which  the  two  points  are 
separated  from  each  other  being  known,  it  is  very  easy  to  ascertain 
the  star's  rate  of  motion.  Now  then,  having  accomplished  this 
with  reference  to  every  one  of  these  stars,  he  finds  them  all 
converging  to  a  certain  part  of  the  heavens,  as  if  that  were 
the  point  toward  which  the  sun  is  moving.  It  must  be  that  the 
line  of  direction  in  which  the  star  moves  makes  an  angle  with  the 
meridian,  which  is  an  observed  angle.  It  is  observed  because  it  is 
formed  by  the  joining  of  two  points,  occupied  by  the  star,  when 
observed  by  the  ancient  and  modern  astronomers.  Now,  inasmuch 
as  all  these  appeared  to  point  at  some  spot  toward  which  the  sun 
is  moving,  he  adopted  a  point  and  said,  "Now,  if  the  sun  is  going 
to  that  point,  I  can  predict  the  line  of  direction  in  which  every  star 
appears  to  move."    He  compared  his  computed  angles  with  his 


100 


observed  ones  in  every  instance ;  and,  if  lie  finds  any  discrepancy 
between  them,  lie  assumes  a  new  point.  And  thus  lie  continued 
to  take  one  point  after  another,  until  all  the  conditions  of  the 
problem  were  fulfilled,  and  he  said,  "There  is  the  point." 

The  subject  was  then  taken  up  by  Struve,  son  of  the  celebrated 
astronomer  who  was  in  charge  of  the  great  observatory  at  Pulkowa. 
He  wished  to  know  the  swiftness  of  the  sun's  motions  through 
space.  In  demonstration  of  his  wonderful  discoveries,  and  as 
a  result,  he  shows  that  the  sun  is  actually  moving  at  the  rate  of 
200,000  miles  per  hour.  These  two  points  having  been  deter- 
mined, ma}'  not  the  sun  be  circulating  around  some  grand  central 
orb?  May  not  the  fixed  stars  be  whirling  their  endless  cycles 
round  some  grand  point,  the  centre  of  the  whole? 

This  was  the  problem  that  Maedler,  the  successor  of  Struve, 
,  undertook  to  solve.  Is  there  a  grand  central  orb?  Is  there  .a 
stupendous  Globe  occupying  the  centre  of  our  Island  Universe, 
having  the  same  proportion  to  the  whole  mass  that  the  sun  does 
to  our  system.  We  can  look  out  into  space  in  every  direction — 
we  can  examine  the  stars  and  their  motions — we  can,  therefore, 
detect  such  a  region- — we  can  detect  the  exact  point  where  it 
is  located,  if  any  such  motions  as  we  have  described  exist — and 
the  conclusion  is  that  no  such  globe  exists. 

The  next  question  is  this  :  Is  there  no  centre  of  gravity  about 
which  all  the  mighty  host  of  suns,  stars  and  comets  circulate 
obedient  to  its  laws.  His  answer  was  that  there  is  ;  and  it  was  to 
the  solution  of  this  problem  that  Maedler  gave  the  energies  of  his 
intellect.  After  long  years  of  labor,  after  he  had  almost  exhausted 
the  capabilities  of  analysis,  after  bringing  to  bear  upon  the  problem 
all  the  mighty  influences  of  science  and  art,  after  ranging  from 
point  to  point  in  the  heavens  which  he  was  compelled  successively 
to  abandon,  he  turned  his  attention  to  the  examination  of  the 
beautiful  group  of  stars  called  the  Pleiades.  After  watching  their 
movements  until  he  had  computed  the  rates  of  motion  of  the 
principal  stars  in  this  group,  and  the  direction  in  which  they  were 
journeying,  he  found  to  his  great  delight  that  they  fulfilled  all  the 
conditions  of  the  problem,  and  the  grand  result  was  attained. 
The  truth  came  irresistibly  upon  his  mind,  that  there  is  the 


101 


centre,  and  that  is  the  point  about  which  al]  the  bright  hosts  of 
heaven  are  sweeping,  in  periods  which  actually  stun  the  human 
mind.  Maedler  has  computed  the  periodic  time  of  our  own  sun, 
which  gives  this  astonishing  result.  It  takes  our  sun  218,000,000 
of  years  to  complete  its  stupendous  cycle 

This  was  the  result  to  which  Maedler's  studies  brought  him. 
But,  unfortunately,  there  is  no  proof  that  this  view  is  correct.  No 
other  astronomer  at  the  present  time  holds  to  this  doctrine  of 
Maedler.  It  is  known  that  a  great  many  stars  are  collected  into 
clusters ;  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  the  stars  of  these  clusters 
revolve  in  regular  orbits,  or  that  the  clusters  themselves  have  any 
regular  motion  around  a  common  centre. 

But  still,  in  addition  to  all  the  motions  of  the  earth,  its  diurnal 
rotation,  its  annual  revolution  round  the  sun,  the  rythmical 
swaying  of  its  axis,  proved  by  the  precession  of  the  equinoxes,  the 
mutation  or  more  rapid  swaying  which  is  caused  by  the  attraction 
of  the  moon,  there  is  an  enormous  translating  movement  which  is 
dragging  it  through  endless  tracks  of  space  in  the  train  of  the  sun. 
Not  many  years  ago,  as  I  have  said,  this  motion  was  entirely 
unknown  to  astronomers,  and  yet  it  is  going  on  with  an  inconceiv- 
able rapidity — a  rapidity  more  than  double  that  of  the  course  of 
the  planet  round  its  central  luminary.  In  one  second  of  time  the 
earth  moves  about  forty-four  miles  toward  the  point  of  the  heavens 
where  we  rind  the  constellation  of  Hercules.  During  one  year 
only,  she  travels  1382  millions  of  miles  in  this  direction  (Bessel). 
Does  this  enormous  distance — which  light  itself  would  take  two 
hours  and  five  minutes  in  traversing — form  part  of  an  ellipse 
described  by  the  whole  planetary  system  round  some  centre  of 
attraction — a  centre  which  Maedler  has  fancied  that  he  had 
discovered  in  Alcyone,  in  the  midst  of  the  Pleiades?  Or  is  it,  as 
Cams  supposes  (Natur  und  Idee),  a  portion  of  an  orbit  which  has 
for  its  focus  (like  the  curves  of  multiple  stars)  a  centre  of  gravity 
common  to  many  stars — nothing  but  a  mathematical  point  ever- 
lastingly changing  in  infinite  space?  We  cannot  tell ;  but  certainly 
this  movement  of  the  globe  we  live  on,  and  its  progress  through 
the  unfathomable  depths  of  space,  hrust  give  us  an  idea  of  the 
immense  variety  of  the  motions  which  make  the  heavenly  bodies 


102 


gyrate  like  particles  of  dust  in  a  whirlwind.  Our  own  little  earth 
itself  is  carried  on  from  space  to  space,  and  never  closes  the  cycle 
of  its  revolutions.  Ever  since  the  time  when  its  particles  were 
first  grouped  together,  it  has  been  describing  in  space  the  infinite 
spiral  of  its  ellipses,  and  thus  will  go  on  turning  and  oscillating  in 
ether  until  the  moment  when  it  will  exist  no  longer  as  an 
independent  planet.  For  the  earth,  too,  must  have  an  end;  like 
every  other  body  in  the  universe,  it  comes  into  existence  and  lives 
only  to  die  when  its  time  comes.  Already  its  annual  motion  of 
rotation  is  diminishing  in  speed  (Meyer,  Joule,  Tyndall,  Adams, 
Delaunay);  certainly,  this  slackening  of  pace  is  not  very  observa- 
ble, since  no  astronomer  from  Hipparehus  to  Laplace  has  yet 
exactly  defined  it.  But  unless  some  cosmical  force  acting  in  a 
contrary  direction  compensates  for  the  loss  of  speed  caused  by  the 
friction  of  the  tides  against  the  bed  and  shore  of  the  ocean,  the 
impetus  of  our  planet  will  every  century  diminish.  After  various 
catastrophes  which  it  is  impossible  to  foresee,  the  earth  will 
eventually  completely  change  its  course  of  action  and  lose  its 
independent  existence,  either  uniting  itself  with,  other  planetary 
bodies,  or  breaking  up  into  fragments  ;  or  it  will  perhaps  terminate 
its  course  by  falling  like  a  mere  areolite  upon  the  surface  of  the 
sun. 

In  the  winter  of  1877,  I  visited  Padre  Secchi  at  his  Observatory 
in  Kome,  and  saw  the  instruments  with  which  he  had  clone  so 
much  for  astronomy.  He  had  two  refractors — one  of  6  inch  and 
the  other  of  9J  inch  aperture.  With  the  former,  he  had  made  all 
his  observations  upon  the  sun's  disc ;  and,  with  the  latter,  his 
spectroscopical  examinations  of  some  five  hundred  stars.  He  used 
Kutherford's  diffraction  grating,  of  which  he  spoke  in  the  highest 
terms  of  praise. 

I  showed  him  Eaton's  prism  for  direct  light  made  of  heavy  glass 
and  of  great  dispersive  power.  He  took  it  into  a  dark  room  and 
let  the  sunlight  through  a  slit  in  the  shutter  fall  upon  the  prism, 
and  the  dark  lines  of  the  spectrum  stood  out  in  bold  relief.  He 
had  never  seen  the  like.  So  pleased  was  he  with  the  prism,  I  gave 
it  to  him.  On  my  return  to  th'e  city,  he  had  it  mounted  and  obtained 
spectra  of  Sirius,  Alpha  Orion  is.  The  dispersion  was  wonderful,  he 


103 

said,  too  great  for  spectroscopic  work  on  faint,  bodies.  He  gave  me 
his  catalogue  of  the  stars  and  drawings  of  his  telescope.  February 
10th,  he  called  and  invited  me  to  visit  the  observatory  and  meet 
Dom  Pedro  of  Brazil.  I  went  and  saw  the  spectrum  of  Sirius, 
across  which  were  two  dark  lines  in  the  blue  and  one  in  the 
yellow :  saw  the  spectrum  of  Beltcgeuse,  in  which  there  were  a 
great  many  lines. 

The  study  of  the  double  and  multiple  stars  has  occupied  the 
attention  of  many  astronomers.  In  1861,  Otto  Struve  began  his 
observations,  and  from  year  to  year  made  careful  and  systematic 
measures  of  the  most  important  double  stars,  which  have  been 
published  in  two  volumes. 

With  an  8  foot  equatorial,  Admiral  Smyth  measured  680  stars 
between  1830  and  1843,  the  results  of  which  were  published  in 
1844 ;  and,  in  1860,  his  "  Speculum  Hartwellianum,"  containing 
later  measures,  was  published. 

Maedler,  with  the  Dorpat  refractor,  measured  a  large  number  of 
double  stars  between  1834  and  1845,  and  published  the  results  in 
1847  in  an  elaborate  work. 

Dawes  published  his  great  catalogue  of  double  stars  in  1867. 
Powell  and  Jacob,  at  Madras ;  Dembouski,  at  Naples  ;  Secchi,  at 
Kome  ;  Duner,  at  the  Lund  Observatory  ;  Stone,  at  the  Cincinnati 
Observatory ;  Burnham,  of  Chicago ;  Dr.  Peters,  Director  of  the 
Litchfield  Observatory  of  Hamilton  College,  and  many  others, 
have  published  catalogues  of  these  interesting  objects.  The  siderial 
charts  of  Peters,  on  which  he  has  labored  for  a  period  of  twenty- 
two  years,  will  be  of  immense  value  to  future  astronomers.  His 
maps  include  many  thousands  of  telescopic  stars — stars  which  are 
found  on  no  other  charts — stars  of  the  fourteenth  magnitude. 

Many  other  obser  /ers  in  this  department  of  astronomy  might 
be  mentioned,  but  time  fails. 

These  observations  could  not  have  been  made,  had  it  not  been 
for  the  wonderful  improvement  in  the  construction  of  refracting 
telescopes.  Among  the  most  noted  of  these  instruments  may  be 
mentioned,  the  Dorpat,  made  by  Fraunhofer;  Dawes'  Equatorial, 
by  Alvin  Clark  &  Sons,  aperture  8 £  inches;  Northumberland 
Equatorial  Cambridge,  objective  by  Cauchoix,  aperture  11|  inches, 


104 


Observer,  Challis' ;  Cambridge  (17.  S.)  same  as  Poulkowa  refractor, 
aperture  15  inches,  Observer  Pickering ;  Greenwich,  object  glass 
by  Merz  k  Son,  has  an  aperture  12J  inches;  Cincinnati,  begun  by 
Fraunhofer,  and  finished  by  Merz  &  Mahler,  aperture  11  inches ; 
Chicago,  Dearborn  Observatory,  refractor  made  by  Alvin  Clark, 
aperture  18 \  inches.  The  great  refractor  at  Washington,  the 
glass  by  Chance,  makers  Alvin  Clark  &  Sons,  aperture  26  inches, 
focal  length  890  inches.    Observers,  Newcomb,  Hall  and  Holclen. 

It  was  with  this  magnificent  refractor  that  Prof.  Asaph  Hall 
discovered  the  moons  of  Mars.  On  the  11th  of  August,  1877 
he  found  the  outer  satellite:  on  the  17th  he  saw  it  again,  and 
soon  after  the  inner  one  came  out. 

The  first  college  astronomical  observatory  in  this  country  was 
established  at  Williams  College  in  1838,  under  the  direction  of 
Prof.  Albert  Hopkins.  Another  was  erected  at  Hudson,  Ohio,  in 
1889.  In  1840,  an  observatory  was  added  to  Girard  College  in 
Philadelphia.  In  1843,  an  observatory  was  commenced  at  Cin- 
cinnati by  Prof.  O.  M.  Mitchell,  and  completed  in  1845.  In  1844, 
the  Cambridge  Observatory  at  Harvard  University  was  erected  on 
Summer  Hill. 

Since  that  time,  almost  every  college  of  any  importance  has 
its  observatory  and  astronomical  instruments. 

The  Litchfield  Observatory  of  Hamilton  College  is  under  the 
direction  of  Prof.  C.  H.  F.  Peters,  who  is  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful discoverers  of  the  smaller  planets. 

It  is  remarkable  that  the  Greenwich  Observatory  has  never, 
Ave  believe,  r.nnounced  a  single  discovery  of  a  planet,  nor  indeed 
proposed  such  an  object  for  its  great  work.  It  is  the  faithful, 
exact  and  long  continued  series  of  observations  of  the  moon  and 
the  larger  planets  and  fixed  stars,  made  by  this  observatory, 
which,  in  connection  with  those  of  other  observations,  has  already 
done  so  much  for  the  great  purposes  of  navigation. 

Dr.  B.  A.  Gould,  who  organized  the  Dudley  Observatory  at 
Albany,  founded  at  Cordova,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Argentine 
Republic,  a  splendidly  equipped  observatory.  In  his  "  Uranometry 
of  the  Southern  Heavens,"  he  has  included  all  stars  visible  to  the 
naked  eye,  the  magnitude  of  each  star  being  determined  by  not 


105 


less  than  four  independent  observations.  His  great  telescopic 
work  has  been  done  with  Tolles  5-inch  teleseope.  In  speaking  of 
the  star  of  Eta  Argus,  he  says :  "  In  the  field  of  my  small  Tolles' 
telescope  of  5-inch  aperture  and  35-inch  foeal  length,  it  is  a  con- 
spicuous object,  and  prominent  by  its  ruddy  color  among  the 
cluster  of  which  it  forms  a  part."  The  magnificence  of  the 
milky  way  in  this  vicinity  is  indescribable,  surpassing  the  Pleiades 
or  the  Praesepe  in  richness,  and  exhibiting  numerous  huge  clusters, 
the  sight  of  which,  through  the  Tolles  telescope,  evokes  exclama- 
tions of  astonishment  and  delight  from  every  beholder. 

There  are  several  valuable  private  observatories  in  this  State 
where  admirable  telescopic  work  has  been  done.  The  oldest  and 
not  the  least  conspicuous  is  that  of  Louis  M.  Rutherford,  Esq. ,  of  New 
York,  who  was  among  the  very  first  to  prosecute  the  subject  of 
celestial  photography.  With  a  specially  constructed  photographic 
objective,  he  took,  March  6,  1863,  remarkably  fine  negatives  of  the 
moon,  the  best  ever  taken.  His  ruling  upon  glass  and  speculum 
metal  for  the  diffraction  of  light  has  been  turned  to  excellent 
account  in  spectroscopic  analysis  of  the  stars  and  nebula?. 

Dr.  Henry  Draper,  of  the  University  of  New  York,  has  a 
private  observatory  at  Hastings  on  the  Hudson,  and  has  been 
successful  in  taking  photographs  of  stellar  and  planetary  spectra. 
He  has  photographed  the  spectra  of  Venus.  Mars  and  Jupiter, 
and  no  difference  can  be  detected  between  the  spectra  of  these 
planets  and  the  spectrum  of  the  sun.  At  Rawlins,  Wyoming,  July 
29,  1878,  he  photographed  the  total  eclipse  of  the  sun,  using  a 
Rutherford  grating  two  inches  square  and  a  camera  of  large 
aperture,  and  obtaining  a  photograph  of  the  spectrum  of  the 
Corona.  The  main  part  of  the  work  of  his  party  was  to  make 
photographic,  spectroscopic  and  thermo-electric  observations,  and 
they  were  quite  successful.  He  also  photographed  the  comet  of 
1881.  A  photograph  of  its  spectrum  shows  elements  and  colors 
which  the  eye  cannot  discern  in  the  visual  spectrum.  The  tail  of 
the  comet  shows  a  continuous  spectrum,  indicating  that  the  tail  is 
composed  of  solid  or  liquid  substances. 

Dr.  Draper  was  the  first  to  obtain  photographs  of  the  fixed 
lines  in  the  spectra  of  the  stars — the  first  to  get  a  photograph  of 


106 


the  great  Nebula  in  Orion.  He  took  a  photograph  of  the  moon 
near  its  third  quarter  of  nearly  four  feet  in  diameter.  The  moon 
is  a  difficult  object  to  photograph,  because  she  travels  in  an  hour 
over  her  own  diameter.  She  don't  stand  still,  and  must  be  taken 
on  the  wing. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  Draper  has  made  his  spectro- 
scopic and  photographic  discoveries  in  the  celestial  bodies  by 
means  of  telescopes  made  with  his  own  hands.  He  made  two 
silvered  glass  reflectors,  which  were  equatorial ly  mounted — the  first 
of  l&J  inches  aperture,  the  second  28  inches  aperture —marvels  of 
successful  mechanism  for  an  amateur  instrument-maker. 

Much  is  to  be  expected  in  the  future  development  of  the 
physical  constitution  of  the  universe  from  this  brilliant  and  hard 
working  young  astronomer. 

Another  laborious  and  successful  observer  is  Prof.  Lewis  Swift, 
of  Koch  ester,  who  has  done  excellent  work. 

When  we  graduated,  only  four  of  the  small  planets  had  been 
discovered.  The  first,  "Ceres,"  by  Piazzi,  in  1801.  Now  the 
number  has  been  increased  to  two  hundred  and  twenty  !  Of  these, 
Peters  of  Hamilton  College  has  discovered  forty ! 

The  number  of  observatories  at  present  known  in  the  world,  is 
118 — 84  are  in  Europe,  2  in  Asia,  2  in  Africa,  27  in  America, 
and  three  in  Oceanica.  Of  the  European  observatories,  Prussia  has 
29 ;  Russia,  19  ;  England,  14 ;  Italy,  9 ;  Austria,  8  ;  France,  6 ; 
Switzerland,  4,  Sweden,  3;  Spain,  Portugal,  Holland  and 
Norway,  each  possesses  two,  while  there  is  only  one  in  Greece^ 
Belgium  and  Denmark.  The  most  ancient  observatory  in  Europe^ 
and  in  the  world,  is  that  of  Leyden,  having  been  founded  in  1632  ; 
then  comes  Copenhagen,  founded  in  1637 ;  Paris,  in  1667,  and 
Greenwich,  in  1675.  The  Moscow  Observatory  is  the  oldest  in 
Russia,  dating  from  1750 ;  Prussia,  now  the  richest  country  in  the 
world  in  astronomical  observatories,  had  none  before  1805. 

In  1872,  Signor  Schiaparelli  received  the  gold  medal  of  the 
London  Astronomical  Society  for  his  contributions  to  Meteoric 
Astronomy.  The  theories  of  Schiaparelli  are  directly  based  on 
observations  and  mathematical  calculations  which  bring  them  un- 
der the  domain  of  the  recognized  logic  of  mathematical  probability. 


107 


lean  onlv  state  the  genera]  results,  which  ;n-<'  that  the  meteore 
which  we  see  every  year  more  or  less  abundantly,  and  which 
always  appear  to  come  from  the  same  point  in  the  heavens,  are 
there  and  thus  visible  because  they  form  part  of  an  eccentric  ellip- 
tical zone  of  meteoric  bodies  which  girdle  the  domain  of  the  sun; 
and  that  our  earth,  in  the  course  of  its  annual  journey  round  the 
sun,  crosses  and  plunges  more  or  less  deeply  into  this  ellipse  of 
small  attendant  bodies,  which  are  supposed  to  be  moving  in  regu- 
lar orbits  around  the  sun. 

Schiaparelli  has  compared  the  position,  the  direction,  and  the 
velocity  of  motion  of  the  August  meteors  with  the  orbit  of  the 
great  comet  of  1862,  and  infers  that  there  is  a  close  connection  be- 
tween them,  so  close  that  the  meteors  may  be  regarded  as  a  sort  of 
trail  which  the  comet  has  left  behind.  He  does  not  exactly  say 
that  they  are  detached  vertebras  of  the  comet's  tail,  but  suggests 
the  possibility  of  their  original  connection  with  its  head. 

Similar  observations  have  been  made  upon  the  November 
meteoric  showers,  which  by  similar  reasoning  are  associated  with 
another  comet;  and  further  yet,  it  is  assumed  upon  analogy 
that  other  recognised  meteor  systems,  amounting  to  nearly  two 
hundred  in  number,  are  in  like  manner  associated  with  other 
comets. 

If  these  theories  are  sound,  our  diagrams  and  mental  pictures 
of  the  solar  system  must  be  materially  modified.  Besides  the  cen- 
tral sun,  the  eight  planets  and  the  asteroids  moving  in  their  nearly 
circular  orbits,  and  some  eccentric  comets  travelling  in  long  ellipses, 
we  must  add  a  countless  multitude  of  small  bodies  clustered  in 
elliptical  rings,  all  travelling  together  in  the  path  marked  by  their 
containing  girdle,  and  following  the  lead  of  a  steaming,  vaporous 
monster,  their  parent  comet. 

We  must  count  such  comets,  and  such  rings  filled  with  attend- 
ant fragments,  not  merely  by  tens  or  hundreds,  but  by  thousands 
and  tens  of  thousands,  even  by  millions ;  the  path  of  the  earth 
being  but  a  thread  in  space,  and  yet  a  hundred  or  two  are  strung 
upon  it. 

In  1851,  Foucault  made  an  experiment  in  the  dome  of  the 
Pantheon,  at  Paris,  to  show  the  actual  rotation  of  the  earth.  He 


108 


suspended  a  heavy  spherical  weight  by  a  long  thin  wire,  and  set  it 
swinging  as  a  pendulum.  There  is  no  reason  why  it  should 
change  the  direction  in  which  it  swings ;  but,  if  the  earth  rotates, 
carrying  the  room  in  which  the  pendulum  swings  round  with  itT 
the  position  of  the  room  will  change  with  respect  to  the  constant 
direction  in  which  the  pendulum  swings ;  and  to  an  observer  in 
the  room  who  will  be  carried  round  with  it,  the  direction  in  which 
the  pendulum  swings  will  appear  to  change,  exactly  as  it  might  be 
if  the  earth  rotated  once  a  da}r. 

It  is  generally  understood  that,  at  the  pole  of  the  earth,  the 
plane  of  vibration  of  a  free  pendulum  remaining  constant  must 
make  an  angle  with  the  movable  meridian  of  the  place,  which 
angle,  in  consequence  of  the  rotation  of  the  earth  on  its  axis, 
continual^  increases,  until  it  amounts  to  360  degrees  at  the  end  of 
twenty -four  hours  ;  that  is  to  say,  that  after  a  lapse  of  one  day,  the 
plane  of  vibration  returns  to  its  original  position.  At  the  equator, 
the  plane  of  vibration  remains  always  parallel  to  the  meridian  ; 
while  at  all  other  points  of  the  earth's  surface,  it  makes  an  angle 
with  the  meridian  which  depends  upon  the  latitude  of  the  place ; 
and,  at  the  end  of  twenty -four  hours,  has  not  yet  amounted  to  360 
degrees. 

The  speculations  of  the  French  philosopher,  Adhemer,  based 
on  the  precession  of  the  equinoxes  and  the  movement  of  the 
apsides,  are  very  curious.  If  the  movement  of  the  earth  is  com- 
pared with  that  of  the  stars,  it  requires  the  lapse  of  25,000  years 
to  bring  the  equinox  to  correspond  with  the  same  point  in  space  it 
now  occupies;  but  the  orbit  itself  being  movable,  this  period  is 
reduced  to  about  21,000  years,  which  is  called  the  Great  Year,  being 
the  measure  or  time  before  the  winter  solstice  will  again  exactly 
coincide  with  the  perihelion,  and  the  summer  solstice  with  the 
aphelion,  and  before  the  seasons  will  again  harmonize  with  the 
same  points  of  the  terrestrial  orbit. 

As  the  earth  between  the  vernal  and  autumnal  equinox 
traverses  a  longer  circuit  than  during  the  other  half  of  the  year, 
and  also  experiences  an  accelerated  movement  as  it  draws  near  the 
sun,  the  result  is  that  the  northern  summer  is  longer  than  the 
southern  summer  by  about  eight  days;  but,  after  the  lapse  of 


109 


10,500  years,  these  conditions  will  be  reversed.  It  was  in  the  year 
12-18,  according  to  Adhemer,  that  the  great  northern  summer 
culminated,  since  which  time  it  has  continued  to  decrease,  and  that 
decrease  will  go  on  until  the  year  11,748,  when  it  will  have 
attained  its  maximum. 

This  compound  movement,  the  precession  of  the  equinoxes  and 
the  shifting  of  the  line  of  the  apsides,  it  is  claimed,  exerts  a  marked 
influence  in  the  distribution  of  the  earth's  temperature. 

Mr.  Croll,  an  English  physicist,  has  prepared  tables,  showing 
the  amount  of  the  earth's  eccentricity  for  the  period  of  three 
million  of  years,  at  intervals  of  10,000  years  for  a  greater 
portion  of  that  time,  and  50,000  years  for  the  remainder.  He 
infers  that  a  glacial  period  occurs  when  the  eccentricity  of  the 
earth's  orbit  is  at  a  maximum,  and  the  solstices  fall  when  the 
earth  is  in  perihelio  and  in  aphelio ;  and  that  only  one  hemisphere 
has  a  glacial  climate  at  the  same  time,  which  occurs  when  the 
winter  is  in  Aphelio. 

Ohm's  law  of  electrical  resistance,  showing  the  relation 
between  the  current  and  the  electromotive  force  in  a  wire  or  unit  of 
resistance,  is  of  great  interest.  The  exact  measure  in  metres  of  the 
column  of  pure  mercury  of  one  square  millimetre  cross-section  at 
0°  centegrade,  gives  what  is  known  as  the  ohm.  Different  values 
have  been  obtained.  Kohlrausch,  1.0593;  Eayleigh,  1.0624; 
Glazebrook,  1,0624 ;  Weber,  1,0552;  Rowland,  1.0572:  Weber  and 
Zollner,  1.0552 ;  and  Dorlin,  1,0546.  Mr.  F.  Weber,  of  Zurich, 
gave,  at  a  late  Congress  held  in  Paris,  the  figures  1.0471  as  the 
result  of  his  work,  and  it  was  there  resolved  that  the  experimentors 
be  recommended  to  compare  (1)  their  standards  of  resistance  with 
that  produced  by  the  French  Government;  (2)  to  compare  the 
induction  lists  by  the  Kohlrausch  wire  circuit  method,  and  (3)  to 
give  all  attention  to  the  Laurens  method.  Finally,  it  was  urged 
that  all  governments  should  support,  as  far  as  possible,  what 
national  experiments  were  made  for  the  determination  of  the  ohm.. 

The  doctrine  of  the  conservation  of  energy  will  always  mark  the 
nineteenth  century  in  the  history  of  discovery,  and  is  undoubtedly 
one  of  the  greatest  and  grandest  generalizations  of  modern  science. 

It  is  well  known  that  all  of  the  physical  forces,  such  as  heat, 


110 


light,  electricity,  or  magnetism,  are  capable  of  being  transformed 
into  each  other,  and  also  that  each  of  them  can  be  made  to  perform 
mechanical  work  by  the  commnnication  of  motion  to  matter.  All 
these  various  manifestations  of  force  are,  however,  only  modes  or 
conditions  of  one  universal  energy,  which  underlies  all  the  chang- 
ing phenomena  of  .the  universe.  This  energy  may  be  active  or 
passive,  it  may  be  diffused  or  concentrated,  it  may  assume  unnum- 
bered forms  and  guises,  but  it  is  one  in  its  essential  nature,  and  the 
sum  of  alb  the  various  forms  of  energy  in  the  universe,  when  meas- 
ured by  their  capacit}T  to  do  work,  is  always  a  constant  quantity. 

It  is  in  the  ceaseless  transmutation  of  energy  from  one  form  to 
another  that  the  myriad  phenomena  of  the  universe  are  manifested, 
and  in  their  fleeting  passage  we  obtain  the  power  which  can  drive 
our  machines  and  do  our  work. 

Energy  may  be  defined  as  the  power  to  do  work,  quite  inde- 
pendent of  the  special  form  or  mode  in  which  it  may  be  stored,  or 
the  character  of  the  manifestation  which  it  will  exhibit  during  the 
performance  of  the  work.  Whenever  energy  changes  its  condi- 
tions it  always  does  work,  and  whenever  work  is  done,  whether  it 
is  visible  or  invisible  to  the  senses,  an  equivalent  amount  of  energy 
disappears. 

Stored  energy  is  always  spoken  of  as  potential  energy.  When 
energy  is  liberated,  and  performing  work,  it  is  called  kinetic,  or 
actual  energy,  because  the  force  is  no  longer  stored,  but  in  the  act 
of  being  expended  on  work.  These  two  states  of  energy,  although 
they  are  widely  different  in  their  character,  are  easily  changed  from 
one  state  into  the  other,  and  all  the  phenomena  of  the  physical 
universe  are  really  the  result  of  the  change  which  is  continually  in 
operation. 

A.  Energy  of  Mass — Gravitation. 

L  Visible  potential  energy — A  raised  weight. 
II.  Visible  kinetic  energy — A  falling  weight. 

III.  Visible  potential  and  kinetic  energy — A  swinging,  or 

vibrating  pendulum. 

B.  Energy  of  Molecules,  or  Molecular  Separation. 

IV.  Invisible  potential  energy — Any  confined  volume  of 

steam. 


Ill 


V.  Visible  kinetic  energy — Condensing  steam,  or  the  recoil 
of  a  bent  spring. 

C.  Thermo-Energy,  or  Absorbed  Heat. 

VI.  Invisible  potential  energy — Latent  heat. 
VII.  Visible  potential  energy — Expansion  of  bodies  when 
heated  which  can  do  work  on  cooling. 

D.  Electrical  Energy,  or  Energy  of  Electrical  Separa- 

tion. 

VIII.  Invisible  potential  energy — A  charged  Leyden  jar  with 
interrupted  circuit. 

IX.  Visible  kinetic  energy — An  electric  current  fusing  a 

wire,  or  driving  an  electro-motor. 

K  Chemical  Energy,  or  Atomic  Separation. 

X.  Invisible  potential  energy — A  mass  of  gunpowder. 

XL  Visible  kinetic  energy — The  burning  of  fuel,  attended 
by  light  and  heat. 

F.  Radiant  Energy. 

XII.  Invisible  potential  energy — Any  heated  or  incondescent 
body. 

XIII.  Visible  potential  energy — A  ray  of  light. 

Although  the  two  states  of  energy — potential  and  kinetic — are 
mutually  interchangeable,  so  that  potential  energy  of  mass  may  be 
changed  into  kinetic  energy  of  motion  of  the  mass,  still  there  is  a 
physical  limit  to  this  change,  because  kinetic  energy  may  be  ex- 
pended in  the  performance  of  molecular  work  where  the  motions 
are  too  small  to  be  recovered  again  as  potential  energy  of  mass.  It 
has  been  experimentally  proved — and  in  strict  accordance  with 
theory — that  although  it  is  quite  possible  to  change  all  the  stored 
energy  of  mass  of  matter,  when  liberated  by  its  motion,  into  heat, 
it  is  not  possible  to  reverse  the  process  and  change  all  the  heat 
back  again  into  molecular  motion.  There  is  always  a  certain  por- 
tion of  the  heat  frittered  away,  disappearing  in  the  performance  of 


112 


work  amongst  the  molecules  of  matter,  and  which  cannot  be  recov- 
ered by  any  means  at  present  known  to  science. 

The  gradual  concentration  of  the  matter  in  the  visible  "uni- 
verse, which  is  evident  in  the  past  history  of  our  solar  system,  and 
in  the  star  clusters  and  nebula?  in  the  far  distant  regions  of  space* 
is  therefore  slowly  changing  all  the  potential  energy  which  was 
originally  present  in  the  universe  into  the  kinetic  form.  This  pro- 
cess undoubtedly  points  to  an  end  to  all  its  phenomena,  unless 
there  is  some  higher  and  exterior  law  in  operation  with  which  we 
are  not  at  present  acquainted.  The  ultimate  form  to  which  the 
kinetic  energy  of  the  universe  tends  is  diffused  heat,  and  when  this 
long-protracted  diffusion  will  have  been  accomplished,  so  that  all 
matter  will  possess  a  uniform  temperature,  all  motion  and  all  life 
will  cease.  Millions  of  years,  countless  as  the  sand  upon  the  sea- 
shore, will  roll  away  before  this  end  will  come,  but  come  it  will,  as 
surely  as  a  clock  will  run  down  if  no  exterior  power  raise  the  fallen 
weight. 

We  may  also  point  out  that  this  same  law  also  indicates  a  begin- 
ning, because  the  sum  of  the  potential  and  kinetic  energy  being  a 
constant  and  finite  quantity,  the  phenomena  of  the  universe  cannot 
have  been  exhibited  from  all  eternity,  or  else  the  potential  energy 
would  all  have  assumed  the  kinetic  form.  How  distant  the  time 
of  the  beginning  may  be,  no  computation  can  determine  any  more 
than  it  can  determine  the  time  of  the  end ;  but  that  there  has  been 
a  beginning,  and  that  there  will  be  an  end,  to  the  existing  condi- 
tion of  the  universe,  is  as  certain  a  deduction  from  the  present 
knowledge  of  physical  causes,  as  any  knowledge  which  we  possess. 

The  dynamical  theory  of  matter  opens  a  wide  field  for  specula- 
tion. It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  we  are  probably  only  on  the 
threshold  of  our  knowledge  of  the  physical  universe  and  its  laws? 
and  that  each  step  which  we  take,  while  it  may  widen  our  know- 
ledge, only  reveals  a  still  wider  region,  into  which  it  is  difficult, 
but  probably  not  impossible,  to  enter.  Guided  by  the  laws  which 
have  been  ascertained  from  rigid  observation  and  experiments,  we 
may  rest  satisfied  that  each  step  forward  will  be  followed  by 
increased  power  on  the  part  of  man  to  control  the  forces  and  reac- 
tions of  the  material  world,  so  that  in  the  future,  as  in  the  pastT 


LIS 


the  progress  of  science  will  be  at  once  a  cause  and  a  proof  of  an 
advance  in  civilization,  and  will  thus  confer  measureless  benefits 
on  mankind  at  large. 

In  concluding  my  remarks  upon  the  scientific  progress  of  the 
half  century,  I  would  call  attention  to  the  discovery  of  the  two 
most  comprehensive  generalizations  in  physics  and  biology — the 
law  of  the  conservation  of  energy  and  the  law  of  natural  selection. 
These  laws  furnish  the  most  advanced  scientific  explanations  of  the 
physical  universe. 

Herbert  Spencer,  in  his  new  system  of  evolution-philosophy, 
has  given  the  most  complete  and  philosophic  statement  of  the 
scientific  faith  ;  and  he  has  given  it  with  special  references  to  the 
above-named  highest  laws. 

On  the  question  of  the  origin  and  future  dissolution  of  our 
earth  and  solar  system,  the  most  eminent  physicists  are  in  the 
main  agreed,  however  much  they  may  differ  on  such  philosophical 
questions  as  the  immortality  of  the  soul  or  the  existence  of  God. 
They  agree  that  a  widely  dispersed  nebulous  matter,  closing  to- 
gether under  gravitation,  awoke  the  sun's  fires  and  produced  the 
earth  and  planets  originally  at  molten  heat.  They  are  farther 
agreed  in  accepting  Sir  Wm.  Thompson's  doctrine  of  the  dissipa- 
tion of  energy,  with  the  consequent  further  dissolution  of  all  the 
systems  of  the  universe.  There  is  a  consensus  of  opinion  amongst 
the  foremost  physicists  as  to  the  remote  physical  beginning  and  far- 
off  end  of  the  material  universe,  though  they  differ  widely  as  to  the 
nature  and  destiny  of  the  human  *soul. 

I  regret  that  time  fails  me  to  complete  in  outline  a  general 
survey  of  what  has  taken  place  in  the  great  circle  of  human 
enterprise  during  this  semi-centennial.  There  are  many  subjects 
to  which  no  allusion  has  been  made,  as  pre-historic  archeology, 
which  has  dispelled  the  mist  of  ages  and  made  the  silent  past  to 
speak — which  has  opened  up  a  long  vista  through  distant  historic 
periods  to  the  remotest  and  darkest  ages,  and  has  been  defined  as 
the  history  of  men  and  things  which  have  no  history.  The 
decipherment  of  hieroglyphics  by  Champollion ;  light  thrown  upon 
the  ancient  Egyptian  religion  and  civilization  by  Lepsius,  Birch, 
Hincks,  Brugsch,  Mariette,  and  others  ;  the  publication  of  Egyptian 


1U 


texts,  as  the  collections  of  Champollion,  Rosellini,  Burton's 
"  Excerpta  Hierogljphica,"  Sharpe's  "Egyptian  Inscriptions,"  the 
magnificent  "  Denkmaeler  "  of  Lepsius,  the  "  Hieratic  Papyri  "  of 
the  British  Museum,  and  many  other  splendid  publications ; 
"  Ninevah  and  Its  Palaces,"  discoveries  of  Botta,  Layard,  George 
Smith,  and  others,  "  Classical  Antiquities ;  "  Fellow's  "Discoveries 
in  Lycia;"  Schliemann's  "Troy  and  Its  Remains;"  Schliemann's 
"  Mycenae  and  Tiryns ;"  Dennis's  "  Cities  and  Countries  of  Etruria," 
etc.,  etc.  Mines  of  wealth  in  Oriental  literature  have  been  opened  by 
such  scholars  as  Max  Muller  and  Prof.  Whitney,  in  the  "Sanscrit," 
and  Dr.  James  Legge,  in  "  Chinese  Classics."  Bopp  has  written  his 
"Comparative  Grammar;"  Norris,  his  "Assyrian  Dictionary;" 
Renfey,  his  "Sanscrit  and  English  Dictionary;"  Winslow,  his 
"Tamil  and  English  Dictionary;"  Medhurs,t  his  "Chinese  Dic- 
tionary." 

Such  works  as  the  "Rig-Veda-Sanhita,"  edited  by  Max  Muller, 
in  6  vols.,  4 mo.  ;  "History  of  Assurbanipal,"  and  "History  of 
Sennacharib  " — both  translated  from  Cuneiform  inscriptions  into 
English  by  George  Smith,  are  highly  creditable  to  modern 
scholarship. 

I  find  no  time  for  ethnology,  social  science,  political  economy, 
and  the  fine  arts,  the  study  of  which  has  become  so  universal.  I 
may  have  given  unwarranted  consideration  to  some  of  the  topics 
which  have  come  under  review,  which  is  probably  due  to  the 
interest  I  have  for  many  years  taken  in  them.  But  there  never 
was  such  an  intellectual  awakening  as  we  have  witnessed. 

The  steamship  and  the  electric  cable  have  bridged  the  Atlantic. 
The  most  intimate  relations  are  springing  up  between  people  of 
different  nationalities.  The  great  principles  of  international  law 
are  studied.  The  arbitrament  of  disputes  between  nations  will  be 
settled  in  the  future  by  an  appeal  to  reason  rather  than  the  sword. 
England  and  the  United  States — one  in  origin,  language,  religion 
and  civilization — are  vieing  with  each  other  in  kindly  acts  of 
comity.  The  royal  purple  is  not  soiled  by  contact  with  the 
coarser  fabrics  of  our  American  looms.  Princess  Louise,  traversing 
our  vast  continent,  does  not  disdain  to  meet  on  friendly  terms  her 
transatlantic  cousins.    Westminster  Abbey,  consecrated  to  the 


115 


sepulture  of  the  renowned  men  of  England,  1ms  admitted  to  its 
sacred  precincts  America's  greatest  poet!  Tlie  marble  bearing  the 
inscription  Henry  Wadsworth  Longfellow,  has  been  placed  in 
the  Poets'  Corner  beside  those  of  William  Shakespeare  and  John 
Milton  !  All  hail  to  English  magnanimity  !  The  Universities  of 
Oxford  and  Cambridge  are  open  to  American  students.  England's 
art  accumulations  for  centuries,  at  South  Kensington  and  the 
British  Museum,  are  open  for  the  inspection  and  study  of  our 
citizens.  Her  historians  and  scholars,  her  artists,  theologians  and 
philosophers,  visit  our  cities  and  speak  in  our  lecture  rooms  and 
pulpits.  The  bonds  which  bind  the  two  nations  are  daily  strength- 
ening. Together,  they  form  the  mightiest  power  on  earth,  and 
constitute  the  advancing  army  of  the  world's  civilization. 

But  our  generation  has  scarcely  done  more  than  enter  the  vesti- 
bule of  the  temple  of  knowledge  !  A  grander  future  awaits  the 
generations  which  are  to  follow  !  And  yet  how  little,  after  all,  can 
man  in  his  greatest  achievements  hope  to  attain  of  the  vast  stores 
of  knowledge  which  lie  hidden  in  the  Divine  Mind  !  "  The  highest 
reach  of  human  science,"  says  Sir  Wra.  Hamilton,  "  is  the  scien- 
tific recognition  of  human  ignorance. — 

"  '  Qui  nescit  ignorare  nescit  scire.  ' 

"  There  are  two  sorts  of  ignorance.  We  philosophize  to  escape 
ignorance,  and  the  consummation  of  our  philosophy  is  ignorance ; 
we  start  from  the  one,  we  repose  in  the  other;  they  are  the  goals 
from  which  and  to  which  we  tend,  and  the  pursuit  of  knowledge  is 
but  a  course  between  two  ignorances,  as  human  life  is  itself  only  a 
travelling  from  grave  to  grave.  This  learned  ignorance  is  the 
rational  conviction  by  the  human  mind  of  its  inability  to  transcend 
certain  limits  ;  it  is  the  knowledge  of  ourselves — the  science  of 
man.  *  *  *  In  fact,  the  recognition  of  human  ignorance  is 
not  only  the  one  highest,  but  the  one  true  knowledge ;  and  its  first 
fruit,  as  has  been  said,  is  humility.  Simple  nescience  is  not  found  ; 
consummated  science  is  positively  humble.  *  *  *  But  as  our 
knowledge  stands  to  ignorance,  so  stands  it  also  to  doubt.  Doubt 
is  the  beginning  and  the  end  of  our  efforts  to  know;  for  it  is  true. 
*    *    *    A  lie.  dubitatj  qui altius  credit  (the  man  who  doubts  much, 


116 


is  he  who  believes  more);  so  it  is  likewise  true,  'Quo  mag  is  qu<M- 
rimus  eo  magis  dubitamus'  (the  further  we  carry  our  inquiries,  the 
more  room  shall  we  find  for  doubt  and  hesitation)." 

But  let  us  not  forget  the  prodigious  advance  which  has  been 
made  in  the  industrial  arts — the  inventions,  which  have  reduced 
the  burdens  of  human  labor  and  turned  it  into  new  channels  for 
the  elevation  and  improvement  of  the  laboring  classes.  Think,  for 
example,  of  the  improved  methods  of  heating  and  lighting  houses ; 
of  the  lucifer  match,  which  has  taken  the  place  of  the  old-fashioned 
tinder-box,  flint  and  steel,  which  we  used  in  our  college  days !  It 
was  not  till  1833  that  phosphorus  was  used  in  the  making  of 
matches.  See  what  a  new  industry  was  created.  In  two  estab- 
lishments on  the  continent  of  Europe,  more  than  twenty  tons  of 
phosphorus  are  annually  used,  giving  employment  to  six  thousand 
persons,  and  yielding  the  astonishing  number  of  44,800  millions  of 
matches  as  an  annual  revenue. 

What  an  improvement  in  locomotion  and  transportation  has 
been  effected  !  The  stage-coach  and  the  canal-boat  have  been 
superseded  by  the  more  convenient  and  rapid  railway  train  !  Not 
only  has  travelling  been  cheapened,  and  immensely  increased,  but 
rendered  more  safe.  In  travelling  by  diligence  in  France,  the 
average  number  of  persons  injured  was  one  in  every  30,000  car- 
ried, and  in  killed,  one  in  every  335,000 ;  but  by  railway,  notwith- 
standing the  average  length  of  the  journey  has  greatly  increased, 
the  former  has  been  diminished  to  one  in  580,000,  and  the  latter 
to  one  in  five  millions  ! 

Science  is  penetrating  all  our  manufactures  and  occupations. 
It  tends  to  abbreviate  mental  and  bodily  labor.  The  philosophy 
of  matter  is  the  foundation  of  all  manufacturing  arts  and  artistic 
processes.  By  the  introduction  of  the  steam  engine,  the  galvanic 
battery,  and  machinery  in  general,  the  phj^sical  toil  of  the  work- 
ing mechanic  has  been  greatly  mitigated  by  enabling  him  to  direct 
the  labor,  instead  of  actually  performing  it.  Science  has  also 
proved  to  be  a  great  source  of  employment,  as  well  as  wealth.  The 
telegraph  of  the  United  States  alone  provides  employment  for 
about  7,000  persons;  and  the  railways  of  the  world  employ  about 
1,900,000  men. 


117 


But,  after  all,  scientific  recearch  can  only  be  successfully  pur- 
sued  by  employing  the  highest  motive,  viz.,  a  love  of  truth  in 
preference  to  all  things.  It  requires  less  ability  to  apply  knowl- 
edge to  new  purposes,  by  means  of  invention,  than  to  discover  it. 
The  men  we  reward  the  highest  are  not  those  who  discover  knowl- 
edge, but  those  who  apply  it.  The  most  eminent  discoverer, 
Faraday,  received  for  his  scientific  lectures  at  the  Eoyal  Institution 
only  £200  a  year,  and  apartments,  during  many  years  ;  and  abso- 
lutely nothing  for  his  great  discoveries  ;  while  the  Archbishop  of 
Canterbury  receives  £15,000  a  year,  besides  the  patronage  of  183 
livings,  and  a  palatial  residence  and  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Peers. 
Prof.  Henry  lived  on  a  small  salary,  about  a  third  only  of  what  is 
paid  to  a  city  judge  in  New  York. 

So  it  has  always  been.  The  great  thinkers,  the  great  poets,  the 
great  artists,  the  great  leaders,  who,  like  Moses,  after  all  their 
labors  and  sorrows  for  others,  are  permitted  to  come  within  sight 
of,  but  not  to  enter ,  the  promised  land !  Dante  was  driven  into 
exile  from  his  beloved  Florence  ;  Plautus  turned  a  mill ;  Terence 
was  a  slave ;  Boethius  died  in  prison ;  Tasso  died  in  poverty ; 
Bentivoglio  was  refused  admission  into  the  hospital  he  himself  had 
erected ;  Cervantes  died  of  hunger ;  Camoens  ended  his  days  in  an 
almshouse  ;  Yaugelas  left  his  body  to  the  surgeons  to  pay  his  debts, 
as  far  as  it  would  go  ;  Galileo  was  put  in  prison  for  expressing  an 
astronomical  opinion  ;  John  Bunyan  wrote  his  "  Pilgrim's  Pro- 
gress "  in  Bedford  Jail ;  and  John  Milton  sold  the  copyright  to  his 
"Paradise  Lost"  for  £10  ! 

I  must  no  longer  trespass  upon  your  good  nature,  but  bring 
this  protracted  discourse  to  a  close.  Its  preparation  has  been  to 
me  a  pleasure  and  a  pastime.  I  hope  it  may  prove  not  altogether 
uninteresting  to  its  readers. 

My  Dear  Classmates  : 

We  stand  here  to-day,  like  trees  of  some  ancient  forest,  few  and" 
scattered  !  The  snows  and  tempests  of  many  winters  have  swept 
over  us,  leaving  us  witnesses  of  the  solitariness  which  now  sur- 
rounds us!    Many  a  stately  trunk,  with  its  broad  spreading 


118 


branches,  lias  been  levelled  with  the  dust !  Many  a  vigorous  sap- 
ling began  to  lift  its  graceful  top  heavenward,  when,  alas !  it  fell, 
no  longer  to  lend  its  beauty  to  the  leafy  forest !  We  are  left 
standing  memorials  of  the  past !  The  }roung  sap  no  longer  courses 
in  our  veins  !  The  woody  fibre  is  losing  its  tenacity  !  We  are 
slowly  dying !  Soon,  not  a  tree  in  this  beautiful  forest  of  fifty 
years  ago  will  be  left !  The  earth  will  remain.  Other  forests  will 
throw  out  their  branches  to  kiss  the  morning  sun  !  The  dews  of 
heaven,  in  the  coming  years,  will  distil  on  many  a  plant  and  flower  ! 
The  gleeful  voices  of  children  will  be  heard  at  morn  and  eventide. 
The  song  of  birds  and  the  bleating  of  flocks  will  make  glad  the 
hearts  which  have  not  yet  begun  to  beat !  We  shall  be  gone  ! 
Transplanted,  it  is  to  be  hoped,  on  the  banks  of  the  River  of  Life, 
in  the  Paradise  of  God  !  All  hail !  Blest  Morn  of  the  Resurrec- 
tion, which  shall  shine  forever  upon  those  who  grew  here,  in  the 
beauty  of  holiness,  the  trees  of  God's  own  right-hand  planting. 
Till  then,  farewell  ! 


APPENDIX. 


This  Appendix  will  consist  of  : 


1.  A  reprint  of  the  proceedings  of  the  first  meeting  of  the  Class 

in  1842,  together  with  the  catalogue  of  the  Class,  poem  and 
address. 

2.  The  proceedings  of  the  Class-meeting,  in  1862. 

3.  The  proceedings  of  the  last  Class-meeting  in  1882,  with  a 

revised  catalogue,  giving  as  full  and  detailed  account  of  each 
member  as  could  be  obtained.  It  is  a  matter  of  regret  that 
no  information  could  be  gained  in  regard  to  some  ;  and  it 
is  not  known  to  the  compiler  of  this  catalogue  whether  they 
are  living  or  dead.  It  would  have  been  pleasant  to  have 
given  the  salient  steps  in  the  life-work  of  every  man  ;  but 
this  is  an  unwritten  history,  and  can  never  be  known. 

4.  Correspondence,  etc.,  etc. 


Decennial  Anniversary. 


New  York,  June  1,  1842. 

To  

Dear  Sir  : 

At  a  Meeting  held  in  this  City,  on  the  11th  of  May 
last,  at  which  several  members  of  the  Class  which  graduated  at 
"  Union  College  "  in  1832,  were  present :  the  Undersigned  were 
appointed  a  Committee  to  make  the  necessary  arrangements  for 
calling  a  Meeting  of  the  Class  at  Schenectady,  at  the  next 
commencement. 

Upon  comparing  notes  at  the  Meeting,  we  were  able  to 
ascertain  the  residences  of  most  of  our  Classmates ;  and  we  shall 
address  to  each  of  them,  an  invitation  to  meet  us  there ;  which 
we  trust  will  be  cordially  accepted.  From  the  accidental  and 
occasional  interviews  we  have  individually  had  with  the  Members 
of  the  Class,  both  in  and  out  of  the  City,  they  have  expressed  but 
one  wish  on  this  subject. 

The  President  and  several  of  the  Faculty  have  expressed  a 
desire  that  such  a  Meeting  might  take  place,  both  on  account  of 
the  pleasure  it  will  afford  them  to  meet  the  Class,  as  well  as  the 
lasting  benefit  it  may  be  to  the  Institution  to  have  so  good  a  custom 
established.  Should  such  a  custom  be  adopted  in  succeeding 
years  by  the  Alumni  of  the  Institution,  it  will  furnish  us  no 
occasion  of  regret,  that  its  origin  should  be  identified  with  the 
Class  of  1832. 

We  have  therefore,  named  Tuesday,  the  day  before  commence- 
ment, as  the  time  for  such  Meeting.    It  will  then  be  ten  years 


4 


since  we  parted  from  each  other  and  went  forth  into  the  world — 
each  upon  his  own  errand — and  before  all  those  early  recollections 
of  school-boy  days  have  entirely  faded  from  our  minds,  let  us  be 
made  ten  years  younger  by  renewing  them.  It  will  be  delightful  to 
greet  each  other  once  more  on  the  Classic  grounds  of  our  Alma 
Mater,  hallowed  by  so  many  agreeable  associations. 

We  trust  you  will  not  fail  to  be  present.  We  shall  rely  upon 
your  presence  and  cooperation  to  increase  the  pleasure  of  the 
occasion  ;  and  to  contribute  your  share  to  the  common  fund  of 
experience  and  good  feeling  to  be  there  furnished,  which  has  been 
accumulating  during  the  last  ten  years. 

Our  intentions  will  be  made  known  to  the  Faculty  without 
delay. 

We  are  sincerely  and  truly  yours, 

G.  McM.  SPEIR,  ] 
J.  C.  SMITH, 

A.  P.  CUMINGS,  I  Committee. 
N.  SHOOK,  | 
C.  E.  WEST,  J 

K.  B. — The  Eesidences  of  the  following  Members  of  the  Class 
are  unknown  to  us — if  you  should  know  where  they  reside,  will 
you  be  kind  enough  to  give  them  immediate  notice  of  the  above. 

Daniel  Branch, 
Nelson  Z.  Graves, 
William  P.  Maulsby, 
Abram  S.  Marks, 
Francis  L.  Upson, 
Francis  Welsh. 


5 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  DECENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY 
OF  THE  CLASS  WHICH  GRADUATED  IN  1832. 


At  a  meeting  of  Members  of  the  Class  which  graduated  at 
Union  College  in  1832,  held  at  the  Philosophical  Hall,  Union  Col- 
lege, Schenectady,  July  26th,  1842,  the  following  were  present: 

William  Austin,  Walter  R.  Long, 

Orlo  Bartholomew,  James  M.  MacDonald, 

George  Bowman,  Merritt  G.  M'Koon, 

John  W.  Brown,  Edwtard  D.  G.  Prime, 

Ethan  B.  Crane,  Robert  0.  Reynolds, 

Jonathan  Crane,  Jr.  Hamilton  W.  Robinson, 

Abijah  P.  Cumings,  Nelson  Shook, 

Ephraim  S.  High,  Jesse  C.  Smith, 
Charles  E.  West. 

On  motion,  Abijah  P.  Cumings  was  called  to  the  chair,  and 
Ethan  B.  Crane  was  elected  secretary. 

Upon  motion,  Messrs.  M'Koon,  MacDonald  and  Reynolds  were 
appointed  a  committee  to  make  arrangements  for  the  further  pro* 
ceedings  of  the  meeting. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned  to  meet  at  the  same  place  in  the 
evening.  At  which  time  and  place  such  committee  made  a  report 
to  the  meeting,  and  upon  their  recommendation  the  following  reso- 
tions  were  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  a  catalogue  of  the  Class  be  prepared  containing 
the  names  and  residences  of  the  members  of  the  Class,  together 
with  their  respective  occupations  or  professions,  and  such  other 
information  in  regard  to  each  member  as  this  meeting  may  procure 
and  shall  deem  proper  to  add  to  such  catalogue. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  a  class 
letter  or  memorial. 

Resolved,  That  some  member  of  the  Class  be  selected  to  write 
a  poem,  as  a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  our  deceased  classmates. 

Resolved,  That  a  Committee  of  Publication  be  appointed,  whose 
duty  it  shall  be  to  cause  the  proceeedings  of  this  meeting,  together 


6 


with  the  descriptive  catalogue,  circular  letter,  and  poem,  to  be  pub- 
lished and  sent  to  the  several  members  of  the  Class. 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  call  a  meeting  of 
this  Class  five  years  hence,  and  address  the  members  for  that  pur- 
pose. That  such  committee  select  a  member  of  this  class  to 
deliver  an  address  at  such  meeting ;  and  that  they  also  address 
circular  letters  of  invitation  to  the  members  of  the  classes  which 
graduated  the  year  previous  and  the  year  subsequent  to  this  Class, 
to  meet  with  us  at  such  meeting. 

After  some  time  passed  in  preparing  the  descriptive  catalogue^ 
accompanying  these  proceedings — 

Messrs.  Macdonald,  West  and  Smith  were  appointed  the  com- 
mittee to  prepare  the  circular  address  to  the  members  of  the  Class. 

Kev.  John  W.  Brown  was  appointed  to  write  the  poem  to  the 
memory  of  the  deceased  members. 

Messrs.  Robinson,  Shook  and  Austin  were  appointed  the  Com- 
mittee of  Publication  ;  and, 

Messrs.  Smith,  Macdonald,  Eobinson,  Bradford,  Brown,  Rey- 
nolds and  M'Koon  were  appointed  the  committee  to  call  the  meet- 
ing of  the  Class  five  years  hence,  wuth  power  to  fill  vacancies  in 
their  number.  (Signed) 

A.  P.  CUMINGS,  Chairman. 

E.  B.  Crane,  Secretary. 


CATALOGUE  OF  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CLASS 
WHICH  GRADUATED  AT  UNION 
COLLEGE  IN  1832. 

*  prefixed  designates  such  of  the  members  as  have  been  married;  \  such  as 

are  deceased. 

*  Thomas  Allen,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Washington,  D.  C,  late  editor 

of  the  Madisonian. 
William  Austin,  Counsellor-at-Law,  New  York  City. 
Roger  Averill,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Salisbury,  Conn. 

*  Rev.  Orlo  Bartholomew,  Pastor  of  the  First  Congregational 

Church,  Augusta,  Oneida  County,  N.  Y. 


7 


*  Rev.  Amos  Beach,  Rector  of  Zion's  Church,  Louisville,  Otsego 

Co.,  N.  Y. 

*  Samuel  Belden,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Amsterdam,  N.  Y. 
Rev.  Abraham  L.  Bloodgood,  Utica,  N  Y. 

George  Bowman,  Counsellor-at-Law,  New  York  City. 

*  Augustus  A.  Boyce,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Lockport,  N.  Y. 
f  Lovell  Brooks,  died  at  Princeton,  Mass.,  in  1833,  1834. 

*  Alexander  W.  Bradford,  Counsellor-at-Law,  New  York  City. 

Author  of  "American  Antiquities." 

*  John  M.  Bradford,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Geneva,  N.  Y. 

*  Rev.  Daniel  Branch,  Ohio. 

*  Rev.  John  W.  Brown,  Rector  of  St.  George's  Church,  and 

Principal  of  the  Astoria  Female  Institute,  Astoria,  Long 
Island,  N.  Y. 

f  Robert  T.  Cameron,  died  on  his  journey  to  Charleston,  S.  C,  in 
1833. 

Howard  Chipp,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Kingston,  N.  Y. 
f  Rev.  Erastus  Craft,  perished  in  the  steamboat  Pulaski,  in  1838, 
off  Charleston,  S.  C. 

*  Eliphalet  Cramer,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Milwaukie,  W.  T. 

*  Rev.  Ethan  B.  Crane,  Pastor  of  the  First  Congregational  Church, 

Saybrook,  Conn. 

*  Rev.  Jonathan  Crane,  Pastor  of  the  2nd  Congregational  Church, 

Attleboro',  Mass. 
Samuel  M.  Crawford,  M.  D.,  Montgomery,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y. 

*  Abijah  P.  Cumings,  editor  of  New  York  Observer,  New  York 

City. 

f  William  Dunn,  killed  in  a  duel,  in  1833. 

f  Peter  B.  Eager,  died  at  Montgomery,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y.,  soon 
after  graduating. 
John  T.  Flournoy. 

Ferris  Foreman,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Yandalia,  111.,  late  U.  S.  Dis- 
trict Attorney  for  Illinois. 

James  Gardener,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Augusta,  Ga. 
f  Butler  Goodrich,  Jr.,  died  at  the  Theological  Seminary,  at 
Princeton,  N.  J.,  in  1836. 

*  Harry  A.  Grant,  M.  D.,  New  York  City. 


8 


*  Nelson  Z.  Graves,  Principal  of  Warrenton  Female  Seminary, 

Warrenton,  N.  C. 

*  William  EL  Hadley,  New  York  City. 

t  William  Hemphill,  died  at  Malta,  Saratoga  Co.,  N.  Y.,  in  1833. 

Kev.  E.  Scudder  High,  Elizabethtown,  N.  J. 
f  Nelson  A.  Hinman,  died  during  senior  year  in  College  ;  his.  re- 
mains were  interred  in  the  College  burying-ground. 

*  John  Howes,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Albany,  N.  Y. 
George  N.  Jerolomon,  left  College  in  junior  year. 

*  Eev.  Charles  Jones,  Pastor  of   Second  Presbyterian  Church, 

Kome,  N.  Y. 

Hon.  David  K.  F.  Jones,  Counsellor-at-Law,  New  York  City. 
John  L.  Kanouse,  Merchant,  Bouton  Falls,  N.  J. 

*  Lincoln  B.  Knowlton,  Counsellor-at-Law,  Peoria,  111. 

f  Delos  Lathrop,  died  at  Albany,  N.  Y,  in  1835,  on  his  return 
from  New  York,  where  he  had  just  received  his  license  as 
Attorney-at-Law. 

*  Kev.  John  N.  Lewis,  Pastor  Presbyterian  Church,  Truxton, 

Cortland  Co.,  N.  Y 

*  Eev.  Walter  R  Long,  Pastor  of  the  Fourth  Presbyterian  Church, 

Troy,  N.  Y 

*  James  J.  Lowrie,  Union  Village,  Washington  Co.,  N.  Y. 
f  William  Mann,  died  at  Watertown,  N.  Y. 

William  P.  Maulsby. 

John  M'Clellan,  M.D.,  Resident  Physician  at  the  Lunatic  Asy- 
lum, Blackwell's  Island,  New  York  City. 

*  Rev.  James  M.  Macdonald,  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 

Jamaica,  Long  Island, 
f  Edward  M'Geoch,  died  during  sophomore  year, 
f  Andrew  D.  M'Farland,  died  at  Worcester,  Mass.,  in  1835. 

*  Merritt  G.  M'Koon,  Principal  of  Oxford  Academy,  Oxford, 

Chenango  Co.,  N.  Y. 
Henry  L.  Messier,  Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

*  Daniel  T.  Moseley,  Counsellor-at-law,  Skeneateles,  N.  Y. 

*  Rev.  E.  D.  G.  Prime,  Pastor  of  the  Church  of  Scotchtown, 

Walkill,  N.  Y 
f  Henry  C.  Pathbun,  Attorney-at-law,  died  in  Florida. 


9 


*  Kev.  J.  H.  Raymond,  Professor  in  Hamilton  Literary  and  Theo 

logical  Institute,  Hamilton,  Madison  Co.,  N.  V. 
f  Robert  0.  Reynolds,  Counsellor-at-law,  Norwich,  Chenango  Co., 
N.  Y. 

"*  Hamilton  W.  Robinson,  Counsellor-at-law,  New  York  City. 

*  Cornelius  L.  Russell,  Counsellor-at-law,  Ohio  City,  Ohio. 
Sidney  Sawyer,  M.  D.,  Chicago,  111. 

*  Rev.  Abishai  Scofield,  Pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  Peters- 

boro,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y. 
f  Nelson  Shook,  M.  D  ,  New  York  City. 

*  Jesse  C.  Smith,  Counsellor-at-law,  New  York  City. 

*  Gilbert  McM.  Spier,  Counsellor-at-law,  New  York  City. 

*  Rev.  Ephraim  Taylor,  Jamestown,  N.  Y. 

f  John  C.  Taylor,  drowned  in  the  State  of  Alabama. 

Rev.  James  L.  Thompson,  late  Missionary  to  Greece,  New  York 
City. 

Francis  L.  Upson, 
f  James  Walker,  Engineer,  Utica,  N.  Y. 

Francis  Welch. 

*  Charles  E.  West,  Principal  of  Rutgers  Female  Institute,  New 

York  City. 

*  Rev.  Jahleel  Wood  bridge,  Pastor  of  Presbyterian  Church,  L.  I. 
f  Charles  B.  Woodburn,  died  at  Spencertown,  N.  Y. 

William  Y.  S.  Wood  worth,  Teacher,  Orange  Co.,  N.  Y. 


Deceased  Members 

of  the  Class  of  1832. 

Lovell  Brooks, 

Delos  Lathrop, 

Robert  T.  Cameron, 

William  Mann, 

Erastus  Crafts, 

Andred  D.  M'Farland, 

William  Dunn, 

Edward  M'Geoch, 

Peter  B.  Eager, 

Henry  C.  Rathbun, 

Butler  Goodrich,  Jr., 

John  C.  Taylor, 

Nelson  A.  Hinman, 

William  Hemphill, 

Charles  B.  Woodburn. 

10 


THANATOUSION  : 

AN  ELEGIAC  POEM, 

COMMEMORATIVE   OF   THE   DECEASED    MEMBERS   OP   THE   CLASS  GRADUATED 
AT  UNION  COLLEGE  IN  JULY,  A.  D.  1832. 


BY  JOHN  W.  BROWN,  A.  M., 

Author  of  "  Christmas  Bells,"  "  Virginia,"  "Merchant's  Daughter,"  "Julia 

of  Baise,"  &c,  &c 


Etsi  procul  a  propinquis 

In  morte  quiescit, 
Amici  plurimi,  non  sine  lachrymis 

Sepulchrum  revisent.* 

I. 

From  various  paths  through  which  our  steps  have  sped, 
From  the  world's  crowded  scene  of  toil  and  strife, 
With  various  fortune,  in  the  race  of  life 

We  come,  these  classic  halls  again  to  tread, 

To  greet  the  living,  and  to  mourn  the  dead  : — 
Ten  years  of  stern  or  bright  vicissitude, 

Have  passsd  in  action,  big  with  hope  or  dread, 
And  now  we  stand  again,  where  oft  we  stood 
In  those  remember'd  days,  a  youthful  brotherhood, 

II. 

Beneath  our  eye  the  same  fair  scene  reposes, 

The  same  bright  sky  is  bending  overhead  ; 
Greenly,  as  then,  yon  mountain  belt  encloses 

The  broad  and  peaceful  plains  around  us  spread  ; 

O'er  dell  and  height  the  summer  sunbeams  shed 
The  same  rich  splendour,  and  the  waveless  breast 

Of  yon  blue  river,  winding  through  the  bed 
Of  these  luxuriant  valleys,  lies  at  rest 
Beneath  the  deep'ning  splendors  of  the  burning  west. 


*  From  the  monument  erected  to  the  memory  of  Nelson  A.  Hinman,  in  the  college  ceme- 

tery. 


]  ] 


m. 

To  tones,  familiar  ones,  and  ne'er  forgot  ; 
Warm  hearts  are  here,  whose  pulses  bound  again, 
Warm  hearts  are  here,  unehang'd  by  joy  or  pain, 

Ling'ring  onee  more  round  this  our  parting  spot ; 

The  toil  and  change  of  life's  eventful  lot 
Have  left  youth's  chords  unbroken,  and  the  flight 

Of  time,  the  fell  destroyer,  darkens  not 
Our  meeting  with  his  shadows,  for  the  light 
Of  other  days  brings  back  their  old  and  calm  delight. 

IV. 

'Tis  well  tliat  thus  undimm'd,  unmarr'd  should  be 

The  golden  links  by  early  friendship  wove, 
When,  nerved  by  hope,  from  rankling  passion  free, 

In  learning's  toil,  with  virtuous  zeal,  we  strove, 

While  generous  emulation  kindled  love. 
'Twere  well,  if  ever  in  the  girded  race 

Of  life,  the  bold  aspiring  mind  could  move 
Obedient  to  such  impulse,  and  the  trace 
Of  boyhood's  pure  ambition  shine  in  manhood's  sterner  face. 

V. 

Familiar  forms  are  gathered,  but  not  all, 

For  many  lov'd  ones  from  our  midst  are  gone  ; 
The  ear  of  death  is  closed  to  friendship's  call, 

And  the  cold  grave  sends  back  no  answering  tone. 

One  sleeps  'neath  yonder  monumental  stone, 
Where  our  own  hands  did  sepulchre  his  dust 

When  life's  fair  prospect  most  entioing  shone 
To  every  eye,  ere  hope  had  learned  mistrust 
Or  her  rich  visioned  gleams  by  disappointment  crost. 

VI. 

One  sleeps  afar  beneath  a  southern  wave  ; 

One,  by  false  honor's  phantom  light  lured  on, 
Lies  in  his  lone,  unblest,  and  bloody  grave, 

Yet  not  unwept  by  those  whose  love  he  won — 
A  generous  heart  by  passion's  sway  undone. 

One  fell  ere  young  ambition's  daring  wing 
Had  battled  with  the  storm,  on  which  his  eye 

Uwblenched,  through  year  of  labor  lingering. 
Read  promise  of  a  triumph,  pure  and  high  ; 
In  manhood's  proudest  hour  called  suddenly  to  die. 


12 


VI. 

Many  are  gone,  whose  morning  hours  were  blest 

With  promise  of  a  bright  and  glorious  day  ; 
Some  gentle  souls  sank  quietly  to  rest 

As  the  departing  sunlight  melts  away 

'Mid  the  delicious  bloom  and  balm  of  May. 
Some  lie  on  distant  shores,  and  virtuous  deeds 

Have  made  their  memory  holy,  and  the  ray 
Of  blest  example,  to  the  gloom  succeeds 
Cheering  the  heart  that  o'er  the  loved  and  lost  ones  bleeds. 

VIII. 

Fair,  fair  in  memory's  moonlight,  are  they  all 
The  young,  the  bright,  the  noble.    It  is  true 

The  silent  grave  returneth  not  our  call, 

Our  voice  wakes  not  their  slumber.    From  the  view 
Of  living  men,  from  'neath  yon  arch  of  blue, 

From  this  fair  earth,  forever  are  they  gone. 
Yet  be  it  ours  to  pay  the  tribute  due 

To  noble  hearts,  not  with  unmanby  moan, 

But  in  that  worthy  grief  which  hallows  sorrow's  tone. 

IX 

Bright  be  their  memory  ever, — sweet  their  rest  ! 

May  we,  when  called  from  life's  eventful  race 
To  join  their  silent  brotherhood,  be  blest 

With  hope  of  heaven,  through  Christ,  our  Saviour's  grace. 

Here,  as  we  stand  around  the  burial-place 
Of  a  departed  brother,  let  us  learn 

Life's  solemn  lesson,  may  no  cares  efface 
Its  salutary  precepts  as  we  turn 

To  the  great  world  whose  paths  all  end  in  death's  sad  bourne. 


The  Committee,  to  whom  was  assigned  the  duty  of  preparing  a 
Class-Letter,  present  the  following : 

In  May  last,  a  Circular  was  issued  at  New  York,  inviting  a 
meeting  of  the  Class,  which  graduated  in  1832,  to  take  place  at 
this  institution,  at  its  approaching  commencement.  That  circular 
was  sent  to  all  whose  places  of  residence  could  be  ascertained.  In 
compliance  with  the  invitation,  we,  whose  names  appear  in  the 
Minutes  herewith  published,  being  assembled,  have  directed  the 


13 


undersigned  to  express  our  affectionate  salutations  to  absent  mem- 
bers of  the  Class;  and,  for  their  information,  to  prepare  a  more 
full  account,  than  could  be  gathered  from  the  Minutes  alone  of  our 
proceedings. 

The  intimacies  and  friendships  that  existed,  during  our  resi- 
dence at  College,  led  us  all  to  anticipate  an  agreeable  interview. 
After  a  separation,  and  an  absence  from  our  Alma  Mater  for  10 
years,  spent  in  different  remote  societies  of  the  country,  and  in  dif- 
ferent pursuits,  we  should  have  been  greatly  disappointed  not  to 
have  found  this  an  occasion  of  uncommon  interest.  The  hope 
expressed  in  the  circular,  which  convenes  us,  has,  in  some  de- 
gree, been  fulfilled ;  we  have  felt  ourselves  made  younger  by  the 
opportunity  of  renewing  personal  intercourse,  in  these  familiar  and 
endeared  scenes  of  our  early  academical  pursuits;  and  we  shall 
separate  and  return  to  our  various  callings  in  life,  with,  at  least  a 
portion  of  the  ardour  and  emulation  with  which  we  formerly  bade 
adieu  to  these  classic  shades.  In  a  word,  we  have  endeavored, 
not  without  some  success,  to  revive  the  feelings  we  had,  when  we 
were  scholars  together  at  this  seat  of  learning,  and  looked  out 
upon  the  great,  busy,  but  as  yet  untried  world. 

In  a  familiar  and  unreserved  manner,  we  have  communicated 
such  facts,  of  a  personal  nature,  as  each  one  supposed  would  be 
interesting  to  Classmates.  Particular  inquiry  has  also  been  made 
respecting  every  member  of  the-Class;  and  with  two  or  three  ex- 
ceptions, interesting  statements  have  been  elicited.  And  could  the 
remarks  which  have  been  made — and  made  in  the  kindest  and 
most  fraternal  spirit — be  here  recorded,  they  would  doubtless  im- 
part more  of  the  pleasure  we  have  experienced  in  being  present, 
than  would  be  possible  in  any  other  way.  Some  of  you  perhaps 
would  have  preferred  to  answer  for  yourselves;  it  is  our  sincere 
regret,  as  it  is  almost  the  only  abatement  to  our  enjoyment,  that 
you  are  not  present  to  do  so.  Be  assured  that  nothing  but  the 
most  hearty  good- will  has  characterized  every  statement.  It  is  a 
source  of  pride  and  pleasure,  that  so  many  of  our  number  have 
already  met  with  gratifying  success,  and  enjoy  prospects  of  exten- 
sive and  lasting  usefulness  and  honor,  among  their  fellow-men. 

But  although  great  cheerfulness  has  marked  our  present  inter- 


14 


course,  we  trust  it  has  been  duly  chastened  by  those  mournful 
reflections,  which  it  has  not  been  in  our  power  wholly  to  suppress. 
Some  are  absent  whom  we  shall  meet  no  more.  They  were  en- 
deared to  us.  The}T  all  possessed  their  good  qualities.  Their 
virtues,  we  will  treasure ;  their  failings,  bury  in  the  dust.  How 
quickly  perished  all  their  hopes  and  aspirations !  But  the  task  of 
offering  a  suitable  tribute  to  their  memory,  we  will  not  forget,  has 
been  allotted  to  other  hands;  and  we  know  how  faithfully  it  will 
be  performed.  It  is  an  affecting  thought  that  more  than  a  fifth  of 
our  class  have  already  been  called  from  this  scene  of  earthly 
labor  and  trial ;  and  perhaps  the  chief  duty,  at  future  meetings, 
will  be,  to  take  from  the  catalogue  of  the  living,  to  increase  the 
catalogue  of  the  dead.  But  this  is  not  the  place  to  indulge  in 
such  forebodings,  or  to  encourage  gloomy  views  of  life.  Even 
though  our  hearts,  every  moment  "are  beating  funeral  marches 
to  the  grave,"  be  it  ours  to  fill  up  life  with  its  appropriate  workT 
never  unmindful  that  only 

"  That  life  is  long  which  answers  life's  great  end." 

It  is  due  from  us  to  notice,  in  this  communication,  our  very  cor- 
dial reception  on  the  part  of  the  Faculty  of  the  college.  We,  of 
course,  did  not  do  them  the  injustice  of  supposing  that  they  would 
regard  our  meeting  with  indifference,  but  the  peculiar  interest  they 
have  been  pleased  to  express,  was  wholly  unexpected.  The  insti- 
tution is  highly  favored  in  continuing  to  enjoy  the  paternal  guar- 
dianship of  the  venerable  Dr.  Nott.  Dr.  Proudfit,  Dr.  Potter,  Dr. 
Yates,  and  Professors  Jackson,  and  Eeed,  are  still  occupying  their 
various  departments,  with  equal  honour  to  themselves,  and  benefit 
to  the  institution.  Dr.  Joslin  now  fills  a  chair  of  instruction  in  the 
University  of  the  City  of  New  York.  Professor  Averill,  who, 
though  one  of  the  youngest  of  the  corps  of  instructors,  gave  prom- 
ise of  being  one  of  its  brightest  ornaments,  has  been  called  to  an 
untimely  grave.  Our  kind  reception  has  entitled  our  Alma  Mater 
if  possible,  to  greater  veneration  and  love,  and  demands  that  we 
should  cherish  to  life's  latest  moment,  the  lessons  of  wisdom  and 
piety  we  received  under  her  fostering  care. 


L5 


While  convened  here  it  has  been  our  privilege  to  attend  a 
numerous  meeting  of  the  Alumni,  at  which  several  of  the  older 
graduates  were  present.  His  Excellency,  the  Governor  of  the 
State,  presided;  and  interesting  remarks  were  made  relative  to 
the  importance  of  some  concerted  action  to  increase  the  College 
Library. 

A  new  Library  Room  has  been  fitted  up  with  great  elegance — 
among  the  embellishments  of  which,  as  not  the  least,  we  were 
pleased  to  notice  a  full  length  portrait  of  Dr.  Nott — but  the  Li- 
brary remains  much  as  it  was,  when  we  were  undergraduates,  and 
we  must  all  know  that  it  is  far  from  being  worthy  of  an  institu- 
tion which  ranks  so  deservedly  high.  At  the  meeting  above  men- 
tioned, a  committee  was  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  raising  the 
sum  of  $10,000,  to  be  applied  to  the  improvement  of  the  Library 
and  Philosophical  Apparatus,  and  such  measures  were  taken,  as  it 
is  hoped  will  secure  the  success  of  the  enterprise. 

Classmates,  you  will  notice  in  referring  to  the  minutes  of  our 
proceedings,  that  we  propose  to  have  a  similar  meeting,  five  years 
hence.  We  are  especially  desirous  that  there  should  be,  at  that 
time,  a  full  attendance.  We  have  felt  grateful  to  Him  who  has 
preserved  us,  during  the  interval  of  our  separation — a  period 
which  must  constitute  no  small  portion  of  our  lives ;  it  is  our 
prayer,  that  the  same  beneficent  Being  would  still  watch  over  us, 
and  bring  us  together,  not  only  with  continued  proofs  of  his  good- 
ness, but  with  more  grateful  hearts. 

Classmates !  do  not  forget  the  proposed  meeting  at  the  Com- 
mencement in  1847. 

JAMES  M.  MACDOISTALD, ) 
CHARLES  E.  WEST,         V  Committee. 
JESSE  C.  SMITH,  ) 

Union  College,  \ 
July  26,  1842.  j 


Tricennial  Anniversary. 


New  York  City,  July  8th,  1862. 


To 


Dear  Sir :  The  undersigned,  a  Committee  of  the  Class  of  '32, 
have  pleasure  in  informing  you  that  there  will  be  a  meeting  of  the 
surviving  members  of  the  Class,  in  connection  with  the  approach- 
ing anniversary  of  Union  College,  on  Wednesday,  the  23d  inst,  at 
2  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  in  the  Laboratory  of  the  South  College. 

This  being  the  thirtieth  anniversary  of  our  graduation,  let  us 
come  together  to  renew  the  friendship  of  survivors,  and  bring  into 
fresh  remembrance  the  many  who  have  deceased. 

Our  venerable  President  yet  survives. 


Eespectfully  yours, 


K  B. — If  you  know  any  member  of  the  Class  whom  you  can 
reach,  by  letter  or  otherwise,  please  urge  his  attendance  at  the  pro- 
posed meeting. 


17 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  TRICENNIAL  ANNIVERSARY. 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Class  of  1832,  held  at  Union  College,  July 
23,  1862,  were  present  Messrs.  A.  P.  Cumings,  C.  E.  West,  H  W. 
Robinson,  Henry  L.  Messier,  D.  R.  F.  Jones,  Orlo  Bartholomew, 
J.  C.  Smith,  Thomas  Allen. 

On  motion,  Abijah  P.  Cumings  was  called  to  the  Chair,  and 
Thomas  Allen  was  elected  Secretary. 

On  motion,  the  Catalogue  of  the  Class  was  called,  and  all  were 
accounted  for  as  nearly  as  possible.  Letters  were  read  from  E.  B. 
Crane  and  E.  Taylor. 

On  motion,  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Charles  E.  West,  H.  W. 
Robinson,  and  the  Chairman,  was  appointed  to  publish  a  corrected 
Catalogue  of  the  Class,  together  with  an  address,  and  the  minutes 
of  this  meeting. 

On  motion,  it  was  resolved  that  the  Class  will  meet  again  in 
1867,  and  that  the  last  named  Committee  will  notify  the  same. 

Meeting  adjourned. 

A.  P.  Cumings,  Chairman. 


Thos.  Allen,  Secretary. 


Semi-Centennial  Anniversary. 


Brooklyn,  April  15,  1882. 

Mr.  

Sir: 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Class  of  1832,  at  Union  College,  July  23d, 
1862,  there  were  present  Messrs.  A.  P.  Cumings,  Chas.  E.  West, 
H.  W.  Eobinson,  H.  L.  Messier,  D.  R  F.  Jones,  0.  Bartholomew, 
J.  C.  Smith  and  Thomas  Allen. 

On  motion,  A.  P.  Cummings  was  called  to  the  Chair,  and 
Thomas  Allen  was  chosen  Secretary. 

On  motion,  the  Catalogue  of  the  Class  was  read,  and  such  in- 
formation given  respecting  its  members  as  was  in  possession  of 
those  present.  Letters  of  regret  were  received  from  E.  B.  Crane 
and  E.  Taylor. 

On  motion,  a  Committee  consisting  of  C.  E.  West,  H.  W.  Eobin- 
son and  A.  P.  Cumings,  was  appointed  to  publish  a  corrected 
Catalogue  of  the  Class,  with  an  address,  and  the  minutes  of  this 
meeting. 

On  motion,  it  was  resolved  that  the  Class  meet  in  1867,  and 
that  the  Committee  give  notice  of  the  same. 

Above  is  the  record  of  the  meeting  in  1862.  There  has  been 
no  meeting  of  the  Class  since.  As  the  Fiftieth  Anniversary  is  so 
near  at  hand,  it  is  desirable  that  its  observance  should  be  duly 
honored.  It  is  thought  that  a  larger  meeting  of  the  Class  can  be 
had  in  New  York  than  in  Schenectady.  The  Committee,  there- 
fore, appoint  a  meeting  to  be  holden  at  Delmonico's,  Fifth  Avenue, 
New  York,  on  the  15th  day  of  June  next,  at  4  o'clock  P.  M.,  and 
earnestly  solicit  your  attendance.  It  is  also  desired  that  you  will 
forward,  at  your  earliest  convenience,  any  knowledge  you  possess 
of  your  Classmates,  living  or  dead,  that  your  Committee  may  be 
able  to  prepare  a  revised  catalogue  for  publication  before  the  meet- 
ing. Please  address, 

CHAKLES  E.  WEST,  Chairman, 

138  Montague  St.,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


1!) 


Union  College,  April  26,  1882. 

Dear  Sir  :  In  the  President's  absence,  I  would  say  that  Com- 
mencement occurs  June  28th  (Wednesday). 

Class  might  meet  in  No.  4  South  Colonnade. 

It  will  give  us  all  great  pleasure  to  welcome  here  the  veterans 
of  '32.  Very  truly, 

Wendell  Lamoroux. 

Chas.  E.  West,  Esq. 


138  Montague  Street, 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  May  5,  1882. 

Mr.  

Sir: 

Circulars  have  been  sent  to  the  survivors  of  the  Class  of 
1832,  calling  a  meeting  at  Delmonico's,  New  York,  to  celebrate  its 
fiftieth  anniversary. 

Replies  of  regret  having  been  received  that  the  meeting  could 
not  be  held  in  Schenectady  during  Commencement  week,  it  is 
thought  best  to  recall  the  former  invitation  and  appoint  the  meet- 
ing at  No.  4  South  Colonnade,  Union  College,  June  27th,  at  4 
o'clock  P.  M.,  the  day  before  Commencement. 

CHAS.  E.  W  EST,  Chairman. 


Union  College,  May  17,  1882. 

Charles  E.  West,  Esq., 

138  Montague  St.,  Brooklyn,  K  Y.  : 

Glad  of  change  of  Class  Re-union  from  New  York  to  Union. 
Nothing  like  "home."    Keys  of  rooms  are  at  treasurer's  office. 

Wendell  Lamoroux. 


20 


PROCEEDINGS  OF  THE  SEMI-CENTENNIAL 
ANNIVERSARY. 


Pursuant  to  a  call  made  by  circular,  dated  Brooklyn,  N.  Y., 
May  5th,  1882,  signed  by  Professor  Charles  E.  West,  chairman, 
the  following  members  of  the  Class  of  1832  met  at  No.  4  South 
Colonnade,  Union  College,  Schenectady,  on  the  27th  day  of 
June,  1882,  at  4  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon:  Prof.  C.  E.  West,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  Lieut.  Governor  Roger  Averill,  of  Danbury, 
Conn.,  Gen.  Jesse  C.  Smith,  of  Brooklyn,  Rev.  Charles  Jones,  of 
Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  Hon.  Cornelius  L.  Russell,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio, 
Rev.  Walter  Long,  of  Wheeling,  W.  Ya.,  and  John  L.  Kanouse, 
Esq.,  of  Boonton  Falls,  N.  J. 

Gov.  Averill  was  called  to  the  chair  and  J.  C.  Smith  was 
appointed  Secretary.    Prayer  was  offered  by  Mr.  Jones. 

Professor  West  read  letters  from  William  Austin,  Esq. ;  H.  A. 
Grant,  Jr.,  for  his  father,  H.  A.  Grant,  M.D.  ;  Rev.  Jahlell  Wood- 
bridge,  A.  A.  Boyce,  Esq.,  and  Rev.  Edward  D.  G.  Prime. 

The  list  of  graduates  of  the  Class  was  then  read  from  the  college 
catalogue,  and  inquiries  made  from  those  present  in  reference  to 
their  knowledge  or  information  as  to  other  members  of  the  Class, 
living  or  dead,  and  the  residences  of  the  living. 

Professor  West  read  sketches  of  the  lives  of  the  following 
deceased  members  of  the  Class,  to  wit :  Butler  Goodrich,  Alex- 
ander W.  Bradford,  Jolin  H.  Raymond,  Delos  Lathrop,  Lincoln 
B.  Knowlton,  Hamilton  W.  Robinson,  John  McClelland,  David 
R.  Floyd  Jones,  Abijah  P.  Cumings,  James  M,  McDonald,  and 
T.  J.  Farnham. 

The  ages  of  the  seven  members  present  were  taken  and  found 
to  range  between  70  and  73  years. 

The  paper  prepared  by  Protessor  West  to  be  read  before  the 
Class  included  the  history  of  the  life  of  the  Hon.  Thomas  Allen, 
deceased,  but  as  that  part  of  it  had  been  read  at  the  meeting  of  the 
College  Alumni  in  the  morning,  its  reading  was  omitted  here,  as 
w  as  also  the  reading  of  that  part  of  the  paper  written  upon  other 


21 


subjects.  But,  on  motion,  Professor  West  was  requested  to  pub- 
lish the  paper  entire,  at  the  joint  expense  of  the  members  present, 
with  the  assistance  of  Jesse  C.  Smith  and  the  Rev.  E.  D.  G.  Prime, 
and  the  meeting  adjourned  to  meet  at  Griven's  Hotel,  in  the  even- 
ing of  the  same  day.  At  the  informal  meeting  in  the  evening  the 
personal  history  of  the  members  present  was  given,  but  it  was 
found,  that  one  evening  was  altogether  too  short  a  time  to  sketch 
even  the  smallest  part  of  the  lives  of  seven  persons  for  a  period  of 
fifty  years,  and  so  another  adjournment  was  had  to  the  next  morn- 
ing before  the  Commencement  exercises  of  the  college.  On  that 
morning  every  moment  of  time  was  used  to  the  best  advantage, 
and  though  but  a  faint  outline  of  the  personal  experiences  of  each 
member  could  be  given,  enough  of  enjoyment  was  had  to  fully 
repay  all  who  were  present  for  the  time  and  labor  spent  in  coming 
together. 

J.  C.  Smith,  Secretary. 


REVISED  CATALOGUE,  1882. 

*Deceased. 

*  Allen,  Hon.  Thomas,  LL.D.  ;  St.  Louis,  Mo.    Lawyer,  editor, 

railroad  builder,  State  Senator  and  Congressman.  Died,  April 
8,  1882. 

Austin,  William  ;  New  York.  Lawyer. 

Averill,  Hon.  Roger ;  Danbury,  Ct.    Lawyer,  State  Senator,  Lieut. 
Governor,  etc. 

*  Bartholomew,  Eev.  Orlo;  Augusta.    Died,  March  7,  1864. 
Beach,  Rev.  Amos  B.,  D.D.  ;  Ithaca    Rector  of  St.  John's  Church. 

*  Belden,  Hon.  Samuel ;  Amsterdam.    Lawyer,  judge,  surrogate. 

*  Bloodgood,  Rev.  Abraham  L. ;  Monroe,  Mich.  Presbyterian 

minister.    Died,  May  26,  1879. 
Bowman,  George  ;  Redbank,  K.  J.  Lawyer. 
Boyce,  Augustus  A.  ;  Santa  Barbara,  Cal.    Lawyer,  clerk  of 

United  States  Court,  Utica 

*  Brooks,  Lovell ;  Princeton,  Mass.    Died,  1834. 


22 


Bradford,  Hon.  Alexander,  LL.D. ;  New  York.  Corporation 
Attorney,  author,  lawyer,  surrogate,  member  of  the  Legisla- 
tive, Fellow  of  the  Eoyal  Society  of  Denmark.  Died,  Nov.  5, 
1867. 

Bradford,  John  M.  ;  Geneva.    Lawyer.    Died,  1861. 
Branch,  Rev.  Daniel ;  Chester,  Ohio. 

Brown,  Rev.  John  W. ;  New  York.  Rector  of  St.  Georges 
Church,  Astoria;  Principal  Astoria  Female  Institute,  Poet, 
author  of  Julia  of  Baia,  etc. 

Cameron,  Robert  T.  ;  Green.  Lawyer.  Died  at  Charleston,  S. 
C,  1833. 

Chipp,  Howard  ;  Kingston.  Lawyer. 

Crafts,  Rev.  Erastus ;  Hartwick.    Perished  in  the  steamboat 

Pulaski  in  1838,  off  Charleston. 
Cramer,  Hon.  Eliphalet;   Milwaukee,   Wis.    Lawyer,  banker, 

philanthropist.   Died,  Sept.  19,  1872. 
Crane,  Rev.  Ethan  B. ;  Brooklyn. 
Crane,  Rev.  Jonathan,  Jr. ;  Kalamazoo,  Mich. 
Crawford,  Samuel  M.,  M.  D. ;  Montgomery. 
Cumings,  Rev.  Abijah  P.  ;  New  York.    Editor  of  New  York 

Observer  from  1836  to  the  time  of  his  death,  May  13.  1871. 
Dunn,  William  ;  Clinton,  La.    Killed  in  a  duel,  1833. 
Eager,  Peter  B.,  M.D. ;  Montgomery.     Died,  1833. 
Farnham,  T.  J.  ;  Oregon. 
Flournoy,  John  T.  ;  Hancock,  Ga. 
Foreman,  Ferris ;  Yandalia,  111. 

Gardner,  James ;  New  York.    Editor  of  the  Constitutionalist, 

lawyer,  banker,  etc. 
Goodrich,  Butler,  Jr. ;  Princeton,  N.  J..    Died  at  Princeton 

Theological  Seminary,  Feb.  12,  1836. 
Grant,  Harry  A.,  M.D.  ;  Enfield,  Ct.     Practiced  medicine  in 

Albany,  New  York  and  Enfield. 
Graves,  Rev.  Nelson  D. ;  Middlebury,  Vt. 
Hadley,  Rev.  William  H.  ;  Portland,  Me. 
Hemphill,  William  ;  Malta.    Died,  1833. 

High,  Rev.  E.  Scudder;  Streats,  111.    Congregational  clergy- 
man.   Died,  June,  1871. 


23 


Ilinman,  Nelson  A.  ;  Pike.    Died  in  college,  senior  year,  1832. 
Howes,  John  ;  Albany.    Lawyer.    Died,  1846. 
Joralemon,  George  M.  ;  Somerville,  N.  J.   Left  college  junior 
year. 

Jones,  Rev.  Charles  ;  Syracuse.    Pastor  of  Presbyterian  Church. 

Jones,  Hon.  David  R.  F.  ;  S.  Oyster  Bay.  Lawyer,  member  of 
the  Assembly,  Senator,  Secretary  of  State,  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor.   Died,  Jan.  9,  1871. 

Kanouse,  John  L.  ;  Boonton  Falls,  N.  J.  Merchant,  commis- 
sioner of  Public  Schools. 

Knowlton,  Lincoln  B.  ;  Peoria,  111.  Lawyer  and  judge.  Died, 
1854. 

Lathrop,  Delos ;  Albany.    Lawyer.   Died,  1835. 
Lewis,  Rev.  John  N. ;  Lodi.    Died,  Oct.  5,  1861. 
Long,  Rev.  Walter  R.  ;  Wheeling,  W.  Va.    Presbyterian  Bible 
Agent. 

Lowrie,  James  J.  ;  Greenwich.    Lawyer  and  judge. 

Mann,  William  ;  Watertown.    Died,  1839. 

Maulsby,  Hon.  William  P.  ;  Frederick  City,  Md.  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  Maryland. 

Marks,  Abraham ;  Lafayette,  La.  Lawyer. 

M'Clelland,  John,  M.D. ;  New  York.  An  eminent  physician. 
Died,  April  12,  1876. 

Macdonald,  Rev.  James  M.,  D.D. ;  Princeton,  N.  J.  Pastor  of 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Princeton,  author.  Died,  April  19, 
1876. 

M'Geoch,  Edward  Died  during  sophomore  year,  1830. 
M'Farland,  Andrew  D. ;  Worcester,  Mass.    A  student-at-law. 
Died,  1835. 

M'Koon,  Merritt  G. ;  Oxford.  Principal  of  Oxford  Academy. 
Died  1854. 

Messier,  Hugh  L. ;  Fishkill.  Agriculturist. 
Moseley,  Daniel  T.  ;  Skeneateles.  Lawyer. 
Prime,  Rev.  Edward  D.  G.,  D.D. ;  New  York.    Pastor,  editor  of 

the  New  York  Observer,  author,  etc. 
Rathbun,  Henry  B. ;  Florida.  Lawyer. 


24 


Raymond,  Kev.  John  H.,  LL.D.  ;  Poughkeepsie.  President  of 
Vassar  College.    Died,  August  14,  1875. 

Reynolds,  Robert  0.  ;  Cortlandville.  Lawyer. 

Robinson,  Hon.  Hamilton  W. ;  New  York.  Judge  of  the 
Court  of  Common  Pleas,  New  York.    Died,  April  7,  1879. 

Russell,  Hon.  Cornelius  L.  ;  Cleveland,  Ohio.  Lawyer,  capi- 
talist. 

Sawyer,  Sidney,  M.D.  ;  Chicago,  111. 

Sconeld,  Rev.  Abishai,  Georgetown. 

Shook,  Nelson,  M.D.  ;  New  York.    Died,  1854. 

Smith,  Gen.  Jesse  C. ;  Brooklyn.    Lawyer,  Surrogate  of  Kings 

Co.,  State  Senator,  1862-3. 
Spier,  Hon.  Gilbert  McM.,  LL.D. ;  New  York.    Lawyer,  Judge 

of  Superior  Court. 
Taylor,  Rev.  Ephraim  ;  Akron,  Ohio.    Teacher  and  author. 
Taylor,  John  C. ;  Schenectady.    Drowned  in  Alabama. 
Thompson,  Rev.  James  L. ;  Astoria. 
Upson,  Francis  L. ;  Lexington,  Ga.  Lawyer. 
Walker,  James  ;  Utica.    Civil  Engineer. 
Welch,  Rev.  Francis;  Perry,  Me. 
Wells,  Rev.  Noah  H. ;  Peekskill.  Author. 
Wyman,  Thaddeus  L. ;  W.  Springfield,  Mass. 
Wiggin,  Benjamin ;  Boston,  Mass.  Lawyer. 
WikofT,  Henry ;  Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Woodbridge,  Rev.  Jahleel ;  Wessen,  Miss.  Pastor  of  Presby- 
terian Church  and  teacher  in  Wessen. 

Woodburn,  Charles  B. ;  Spencertown.    Teacher.    Died,  1833. 

Wood  worth,  William  Y.  S.  ;  Northampton.  Teacher. 

West,  Charles  E.,  M.D.,  LL.D.;  Brooklyn.  Principal  of  Rutgers 
Female  Institute,  New  York,  1839  to  1851 ;  of  Buffalo  Female 
Academy,  1851  to  1860  ;  of  Brooklyn  Heights  Seminary, 
1860  to  present  time.  Admitted  as  attorney  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  New  York,  1844  ;  received  the  honorary  degrees  of 
M.A.  from  Columbia  College  in  1844;  M.D.  from  the  Uni- 
versity of  New  York,  1845,  and  LL.D.  from  Rutgers  College, 
New  Jerse}r,  1851.  Fellow  of  the  Royal  Antiquarian  Society 
of  Denmark,  1849. 


25 


THE  LIVING  MEMBERS  OF  THE  CLASS  IN  1882  AS 
FAR  AS  CAN  BE  ASCERTAINED. 


Austin,  William, 
Aveeill,  Roger, 
Beach,  Amos, 
Bowman,  George, 
Boyce,  Augustus  A., 
Branch,  Daniel, 
Chipp,  Howard, 
Crane,  Ethan  B., 
Crawford,  Samuel  B., 
Forman,  Ferris, 
Grant,  Harry  A., 
Graves,  Nelson  Z., 
Hadley,  William  H., 
Jones,  Charles, 
Kanouse,  John  L, 


Long,  Walter  R., 
Lowrie,  James  L 
Maulsby,  William  P., 
Prime,  Edward  D.  G., 
Russell,  Cornelius  L, 
Sawyer,  Sidney, 
scofield,  abishai, 
Smith,  Jesse  C, 
Spier,  Gilbert  McM., 
Taylor,  Ephraim, 
Upson,  Francis  L., 
Welsh,  Francis, 
West,  Charles  E., 
Wiggin,  Benjamin, 
Wikoff,  Henry, 
:,  Jahleel. 


Total,  31. 


26 


ORDER  OF  COMMENCEMENT  IN   UNION  COLLEGE, 
JULY  25,  1832. 


Music  and  Distribution  of  Orden 
PR  A  TER. 


Sal.  ad  Gub.  - 
JSal.  ad  Curat. 
Study  of  the  Law, 
Study  of  Hebrew,  - 
Study  of  Medicine, 
The  Theatre, 
Natural  Theology, 
National  Law, 
Greek  Literature, 
The  Civil  Law, 
Sacred  Music, 
The  Study  of  Logic, 
Influence  of  Russia, 
Latin  Oration, 
African  Colonization, 
The  Triumph  of  Greece, 
French  Oration, 
New  York, 


Political  Constitutions  of  Europe, 
The  State  of  the  Press, 
Italy,  - 

Mental  Philosophy, 
National  Degeneracy, 
Doom  of  Genius — a  Poem, 


Russia,  - 

The  American  Novelist,  - 

Military  Glory, 

The  Times, 

Decline  of  the  Ottoman  Empire, 
The  Fall  of  Warsaw, 
The  Progress  of  Mind, 
Congress  of  Nations, 


By  C.  E.  West, 
"  S.  Sawyer, 
"  J.  L.  Kanouse, 
"  C.  Jones, 
"  A.  W.  Bradford, 
"  W.  Austin, 

"    J.  WOODBRIDGE, 
"    J.  J.  LOWRIE, 

"  J.  L.  Thompson, 
"  W.  Mann, 

E.  B.  Crane, 
"  D.  Branch, 
"  L.  B.  Knowlton, 
"  E.  D.  G.  Prime, 
"  P.  B.  Eager, 
"  J.  M.  Bradford, 
"  J.  C.  Taylor, 
"  W.  Dunn, 


MUSIC. 


By  D.  T.  Moseley, 
"  H.  W.  Robinson, 
"  N.  Shook, 
"  J.  B.  Crane, 
"  E.  Cramer, 
"  J.  W.  Brown, 


MUSIC. 


By  W.  R.  Long, 

"  D.  R.  F.  Jones, 

"  R.  AVERILL, 

"  W.  H.  Hadley, 

"  J.  Gardner, 

"  G.  McM.  Spier, 

"  O.  Bartholomew, 

"  A.  P.  CUMINGS, 


Degrees  Conferred. 
PR  A  TER. 


Phil.  Orat. 
Class  Orat. 


Class  Orat. 


Phil.  Orat. 

Inst.  " 

Phil.  '« 

Inst.  " 

Inst.  " 

Adel.  '« 

Adel.  " 

Adel.  «• 


Correspondence. 


Danbury,  Conn.,  April  18,  1882. 

Dr.  C.  E.  West  : 

My  Dear  Sir:  Your  letter  of  the  11th  inst.  has  been  received. 

I  had  not  forgotten  that  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  our  gradu- 
ation at  college  is  near  at  hand.  I  have  many  reminders  that  my 
college  days  were  a  long,  long  time  ago. 

A  few  weeks  since  I  met  in  Washington  some  gentlemen 
from  Schenectady  who  referred  to  the  approaching  anniversary  of 
the  graduation  of  the  Class  of  1882,  and  expressed  an  earnest  wish 
that  it  might  be  appropriately  commemmorated.  In  this  I  expressed  * 
my  hearty  concurrence.  I  am  in  no  way  committed  as  to  the  place 
of  meeting.  I  have  not  the  means  at  hand  to  form  an  opinion  as 
to  the  number,  or  the  present  residence  of  our  surviving  class- 
mates. If  the  attendance  of  a  greater,  or  indeed  an  equal  number 
could  be  secured  at  a  meeting  to  be  held  at  Schenectady,  I  would 
individually  prefer  the  college  to  any  other  place.  I  will,  how- 
ever, endeavor  to  conform  to  any  arrangement  that  you  and  those 
about  you  whom  you  may  consult  may  decide  to  make,  and  will 
co-operate. 

I  know  nothing  of  late  of  Dr.  H.  A.  Grant.    A  few  years  ago 
he  resided  in  Enfield,  in  Hartford  County,  Conn. 

Hoping  soon  to  hear  again  from  you  on  this  subject,  I  remain, 
Truly  yours,  ROGER  AYERILL. 


Syracuse,  New  York,  May  2,  1882. 

Prof.  Chas.  E.  West  : 

My  Dear  Sir :  I  have  had  some  correspondence  with  Mr.  G. 
M.  Spier,  of  New  York,  as  to  a  class-meeting  at  Schenectady  next 
Commencement.  We  left  Union  in  1832,  a  half  century  since,  and 
I  have  had  an  earnest  desire  for  a  reunion  on  the  old  college 
grounds.    This,  to  me,  would  be  very  pleasant.    Where  we  used 


28 


to  see  the  memorable  and  most  excellent  President  Nott — again 
to  gather  and  call  to  mind  the  past,  for  me  would  have  a  charm. 
Time,  place,  and  associations  would  have  much  to  do  with  my 
really  enjoying  a  gathering.  I  have  just  received  a  few  lines  from 
Mr.  Spier,  and  on  another  page  your  printed  words.  At  this  stage 
I  think  it  would  be  quite  impracticable  for  me  to  meet  at  Del- 
monicos,  Fifth  avenue,  New  York  city.  This  would  accommodate 
our  Class  who  are  in  or  near  by  New  York.  I  think,  however,  it 
would  be  fatal  to  any  general  gathering  of  our  classmates  who 
may  yet  live  and  be  scattered  far  and  near.  Please,  however, 
inform  me,  so  far  as  you  are  able,  how  many  and  who  may  be 
expected  f 

In  1872  I  was  at  our  Alma  Mater  and  shall  hope  to  be  in  1882. 
I  can  make  no  special  report  for  any  but  myself. 
With  respect,  yours  sincerely, 

CHAELES  JONES. 
(cpBK) 

Address:  Kev.  Charles  Jones, 

146  West  Onondaga  /St. ,  Syracuse,  N.  Y. 


Monroe,  Mich.,  May  15,  1882. 

Mr.  Charles  E.  West: 

Dear  Sir :  Your  circular  relating  to  the  anticipated  meeting  of 
the  Union  College  Class  of  1832  is  received,  and  was  mislaid, 
which  is  my  apology  for  not  writing  sooner.  My  father,  Eev.  A. 
L.  Bloodgood,  went  home  May  26th,  1879.  A  statement  of  some 
facts  relating  to  his  life  was  sent  by  request  to  Eev.  Henry  A. 
Hazen,  Auburndale,  Mass.,  compiler  of  vital  statistics  for  the 
"  Congregational  Year  Book,"  for  publication  in  the  same. 

Not  having  a  copy  of  the  statement,  I  would  respectfully  refer 
you  to  the  above-named  gentleman,  should  you  wish  for  the  facts 
therein  contained.  Yours  truly, 

LYNOTT  BLOODGOOD. 

P.  S. — Should  you  feel  so  inclined,  I  would  be  pleased  to 
receive  a  copy  of  the  class  catalogue  when  published. 

Eespectfully,  &c.  L.  B. 


29 


Enfield,  Conn.,  May  22,  1882. 

Charles  E.  West,  Esq., 

Chairman  of  Com.  of  Class  of  '32 : 
Dear  Sir :  Your  circular  to  your  classmate,  my  father,  reached 
him  when  he  was  confined  to  his  bed  by  a  long  and  dangerous 
illness.  Not  thinking  it  would  continue  so  long,  he  has  deferred 
answering  till  this  time,  hoping  he  might  be  present.  He  is  now 
very  weak  and  no  better,  and  has  asked  me  to  write  you  and  say 
how  much  he  anticipated  from  being  present  at  the  reunion  in 
June,  but  that  now  he  sees  it  will  be  impossible.  Even  if  he 
recovers  from  his  present  sickness,  it  will  be  many  days  after  the 
appointed  one  before  he  will  be  able  to  leave  his  room.  As  your 
circular  desires  information  of  other  classmates,  living  or  dead,  he 
wishes  me  to  tell  you  that  his  college  chum,  the  Rev.  A.  L.  Blood- 
good,  died  at  Monroe,  Michigan,  the  summer  of  79. 

Yours  truly,  H.  A.  GRANT,  Jr. 


Santa  Barbara,  May  27,  1882. 

Prof.  Chas.  E.  West: 

My  Dear  Sir:  Your  printed  circular  of  5th  inst,  inviting  me 
to  meet  my  dear  surviving  classmates  of  1832,  at  their  semi-cen- 
tennial gathering,  the  27th  of  June  next,  at  Union  College,  finds 
me  near  3,000  miles  distant,  and  situated  so  that  I  find  it  quite 
impossible  to  join  the  very  interesting  twelve  named  in  your  accom- 
panying letter,  viz. :  "  Allen,  Averill,  Grant,  Smith,  Prime,  Austin, 
"Boyce,  E.  B.  Crane,  Bowman,  Russell,  West,  Maulsby." 

And  since  you  wrote  it,  poor  Allen  has  been  called  to,  as  we 
trust,  a  sphere  where  we  may  all  hope  to  meet. 

After  a  residence  of  over  sixty  years  in  my  native  State  of  New 
York  I  was  persuaded  in  1875  to  remove  to  this  Pacific  slope,  to 
spend  the  evening  of  my  days  under  the  mild  and  benignant 
atmosphere  for  which  this  coast  of  California  is  so  celebrated. 

Trusting  that  I  may  get  a  full  report  of  your  proceedings,  and 
may  yet  meet  some  of  my  old  classmates, 

I  remember,  with  sincere  affection  and  esteem,  yours, 

ANSON  AUGUSTUS- BO YCE. 


80 


Wesson,  Miss.,  June  21,  1882. 

Dr.  Chas.  E.  West  : 

My  Dear  Classmate:  I  shall  not  be  able  to  be  present  at  the 
festival  of  June  29th,  as  I  had  hoped  to  be,  and  will  write  to  you 
a  few  words,  which  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  you  and  the  asso- 
ciates of  fifty  years  ago.  Haud  immemor,  I  shall  be  present  in 
heart  to  greet  the  boys.  I  see  them  very  distinctly,  and  if  the 
years  have  left  footsteps,  or  scattered  frost,  and  if  they  are  getting 
to  be  old  boys,  I  shall  not  see  it.  In  my  case,  youth  is  immortal. 
He  was  a  young  man  even  if  he  did  sit  near  a  sepulchre. 

I  have  never  had  much  to  say  about  myself,  because  there  are  so 
much  better  models  and  experiences  to  present  to  the  world,  which 
I  have,  in  my  poor  way,  been  trying  to  make  better.  But  on  this 
occasion  it  will  be  proper  to  say  something  as  to  the  course  of  a 
life  which  started  from  old  Union  in  the  July  of  1832.  Would 
that  I  could  find  a  glass  which  would  enable  me  to  trace  the  path 
of  each  of  the  fifty  who  on  that  day  went  forth  from  the  halls  to 
meet  the  realities  of  the  life  which  then  were  all  sunshine. 

Till  '85  I  spent  at  Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  One  year 
I  lived,  riding  much  on  horseback,  in  Maryland ;  then  went  to 
Mississippi,  where  I  spent  two  years ;  then  to  Louisiana,  where  I 
remained  fifteen  years  ;  then  to  Kentucky  fourteen  more,  and  in 
1871,  necessitated  to  seek  a  northern  climate  by  the  illness  of  a 
member  of  my  family,  returned  to  this  State,  and  the  place  where 
I  now  reside.  That  does  not  fill  the  entire  fifty  years  ;  but  some- 
times, in  a  Bohemian  way,  I  gypsej^ed.  Thus  I  spent  1870  in  Mis- 
souri, and  perhaps  should  have  been  there  till  now,  but  for  the 
calamity  in  my  family,  which  drove  me  Southward.  At  times 
I  have  taught,  usually  in  connection  with  preaching,  which  I 
always  considered  my  life-work.  For  several  years  I  was  chaplain 
to  the  Louisiana  penitentiary,  and  have  acted  in  that  capacity  to 
the  Legislature  occasionally. 

My  pastorates  have  been,  Baton  Rouge,  La.,  fourteen  years  ; 
Henderson,  Ky.,  twelve;  Wesson,  Miss.,  ten. 

I  have  seven  children.  Two  are  ministers  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  of  whom  one,  just  through  his  theological  course,  is  under 
appointment  as  missionary  to  China.    All  are  members  of  the 


31 


church,  two  being  ruling  elders.  My  daughters,  one  sixteen, 
another  fourteen,  are  now  at  home  for  school  vacation. 

I  have  written  no  books,  but  have  produced  innumerable  arti- 
cles for  the  newspapers.  I  have  been  an  omniverous  reader,  nor  do 
I  see  any  signs  of  decadence  in  that  respect.  I  believe  that  I  live 
in  the  present  as  much  as  I  did  at  thirty,  trying  to  keep  along  with 
the  age — which,  I  believe,  we  sometimes  hinted  in  our  college 
days,  is  "remarkable."  I  have  taken  a  pretty  fair  look  at  the 
"  advanced  thought,  "  and  "  new  departures,"  "  new  basis  of  mor- 
als," et  cetera,  but  the  God  of  the  Bible,  and  the  Christ  Jesus  of 
the  Gospel,  are  as  much  realities  to  me  as  the  physical  universe. 

I  am  sorry  for  the  honor  of  Union  that  I  cannot  report  myself 
a  great  man.  I  have  been  blessed  with  warm  friends,  and  in  some 
instances  have  been  strong  enough  to  make  enemies.  Now  and 
then  I  find  evidences  of  advanced  years,  such  as  a  disposition  to 
preach  an  hour  and  a  quarter,  and  I  doubt  whether  I  should  climb 
the  stairs  of  N.  C.  S.  S.  to  No.  14  as  I  used  to  do,  three  steps  at 
once,  were  I  to  visit  the  classic  shades. 

Memory  is  very  busy  as  I  write  these  lines,  but  it  is  only  what 
the  occasion  will  bring  out  more  vividly  at  the  reunion.  Grand 
old  Dr.  Nott !    Prosser  with  his  "  rather !  " 

Beloved  classmates !    Gratefully  and  hopefully  I  greet  you, 
and  adieu.  Even  sunsets  are  glorious,  and  there  are  worlds  beyond. 
In  kindest  remembrance,  your  classmate, 

JAHLEEL  WOODBEIDGE. 


[From  the  Chancellor  of  the  Regents  of  the  University.'] 

My  Dear  Dr.  West:  Was  not  Hon.  Thomas  Allen  a  classmate 
of  yours,  and  will  not  you  respond  to  the  announcement  of  his 
death  at  the  Alumni  meeting  at  the  coming  commencement  at 
Union  College  ?  Can  you  suggest  anything  for  the  report  ? 
Please  let  me  hear  from  you. 

Yours  very  truly,  H.  E.  PIEKSOK 


32 


Union  College,  July  18,  1854. 

My  Dear  Sir:  Your  letter,  enclosing  the  resolutions  of  the 
Alumni  of  Union  College  at  Buffalo,  has  this  day  reached  me 
through  the  post-office.  Though  long  in  coming,  this  unexpected 
testimony  of  respect  from  so  many  beloved  pupils  is  not  the  less 
acceptable  on  that  account.  Please  accept  for  yourself,  and  present 
to  the  other  Alumni  in  j-our  vicinity,  my  grateful  acknowledg- 
ments for  the  filial  sentiments  which  said  resolutions  express. 
That  a  good  Providence  may  crown  their  lives  on  earth  with  bless- 
ings, and  that  we  may  all  meet  eventually  in  heaven,  is  the  prayer 
of  yours,  affectionately, 

ELIPHL  NOTT. 

Charles  E.  West,  Esq. 


[Letter  from  Padre  Secchi] 

Pome,  July  27,  1877. 

My  Dear  Mr.  West :  I  have  received  to-day  your  very  kind  letter, 
and  I  am  very  thankful  to  you  for  the  good  memory  you  have  of 
me.  I  have  tried  your  prism  with  the  stars  and  the  sun,  and  it 
works  very  well,  but  it  weakened  the  light  too  much  on  account 
of  the  great  diffusion ;  no  doubt  it  would  be  the  best  where  there 
is  great  light,  but  for  small  stars  the  lines  are  difficult  to  be  seen 
for  defect  of  light.  I  have  also  myself  seen  one  of  the  spectro- 
scopes of  MacLean,  but  I  found  it  rather  poor  for  great  stars — the 
diffusion  is  too  small ;  for  the  small  ones  it  follows  that  the  sepa- 
ration is  so  small  that  the  lines  cannot  be  seen.  I  think  it  is  a 
joujou  for  amateurs.  One  cannot  have  measures  at  all,  not  even 
relative  measures  of  the  distances  since  the  telespectroscope  is  con- 
verted by  it  into  a  galilean  combination.  Besides,  M.  Browning  is 
not  right  when  he  says  that  several  stellar  spectroscopes  have  been 
invented,  but  that  all  of  them  have  been  found  unsatisfactory.  Those 
which  I  have  invented  since  1866  are  the  best  used  by  me  during 


33 


these  last  twelve  years  and  with  the  greatest  satisfaction,  and 
nobody  has  found  anything  better. 

The  Count  Castracane  is  not  now  in  Kome,  but  in  England  ;  he 
will  not  come  back  until  next  winter.  Then  I  will  inform  him  of 
what  you  have  written  to  me. 

I  hope  you  are  in  very  good  health,  and  that  you  have  been 
very  much  pleased  with  your  travels  in  Europe. 
I  am  respectfully,  truly  yours, 

P.  H.  SECCHI. 

DIR. K   DELL'OSS.0    COLL.°   ROM  ° 


